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The Insider's Guide To Happiness: episode guide

...guide to love | ...guide to happinesss

Is Happiness an Accident?

Episode 1
New Zealand: May 19, 2004
Australia: April 06, 2008
Written by Peter Cox and Paula Boock
Directed by

Julie, a thirty-something caterer, meets her husband Simon at a cafe to tell him the good news that she is pregnant, but his response is to choke on a mushroom and collapse. In the ambulance on the way to hospital Simon revives, just as the ambulance swerves, loses control and smashes into a parked car at a busy intersection. At the hospital, a doctor, William is ill-equipped to tell Julie that Simon died in the crash. Julie, in shock, goes home, collects all Simon's possessions and burns them in the bath. Then she returns to the café, demanding to know how one of their mushrooms can kill a man.

With: Brian Sergent as Father of Bride, Matthew Chamberlain as Simon, Paul McLaughlin as John, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Thomas Robins as Karl, Renée Ellwood as Jasmine, Holly Shanahan as Bride, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Nick Gibbs as Cyclist, Lee Foon as Receptionist, Jacob Hannagan as Kyle (Young Boy), Ben Hurley as Music Store Guy, Rebecca Most as Cafe Waitress, Shahir Daud as Doctor, Mitchell Manuel as Moving Man, Stephanie Reid as Nurse

Who Controls Your Happiness?

Episode 2
New Zealand: May 26, 2004
Australia: April 13, 2008
Story by Paul Boock and Peter Cox
Written by Damien Wilkins
Directed by

Tina rescues an old lottery ticket from under a stray cat at the accident intersection - and is scratched in the process. Because she suffers from Von Willebrand's, a rare blood disease, she goes to hospital for treatment. She calls Sam, unknowingly disturbing him from a tryst with Kat. Sam lies and tells Kat that Tina is his sister, and is then angry with Tina at her 'neediness'. He leaves her at the hospital. On a whim, Tina checks the lottery ticket at a dairy - only to find that it's a first division winner - she has just won 6.3 million dollars! Sam chooses a really bad time to break up. Julie cremates Simon and informs his family by email. James sees himself in a parallel universe and doesn't like it.

With: Loren Horsley as Olive, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Paul McLaughlin as John, Emily Keddell as Sophie, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Shane Bartle as Crematorium Guy, Erroll Shand as Noel, Stephanie Reid as Nurse, Sam Husson as TV Editor, Barbara Donnelly as Golden Egg Woman, Matthew Saville as Pizza Guy

Will The Truth Make You Happy?

Episode 3
New Zealand: June 03, 2004
Australia: April 20, 2008
Written by David Brechin-Smith and Damien Wilkins
Directed by

Matthew escapes from the hospital and goes to his own funeral. He feels guilty about having cheated on his fiancée with Tess on his last day alive. But during his funeral Matthew discovers to his horror that his father is having an affair, and that his fiancée wasn't sure that she wanted to marry him anyway. Worse, his family all remember versions of Matthew that are not really true and Matthew begins to question whether his family really knew him at all. He decides that everything he believed in was based on a lie and that the only true thing in his life was the way he felt about Tess.

With: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Tofiga Sefo Fepulea'i as Michael, Tio Leota as Rico, Eteuati Ete as Samoan Minister, Anatoa Tekira as Sia (Tiatia), Brian Hotter as Nathan, Liz Kaye as Josie, Ashleen Singh as Rebecca, Zara Nicely as Kay, Felix Preval as Rowan, James Nokise as Casino Banker, Richard Trow as Guy, Sean McChesney as 2nd Guy, Tanisha Fearon as Shop Assistant, AJ Hickling as Wuming Quan Teacher, Myles Climo as Waiter, Melanie Hargreaves as Young Woman

What Are You Afraid Of?

Episode 4
New Zealand: June 10, 2004
Australia: April 27, 2008
Written by Paula Boock and David Brechin-Smith
Directed by

When Lindy is fired from her new job, she hits rock bottom and has to fight an old demon. An old friend of William's turns up, Tina snorts her way into further trouble, and James is terrified when he sees himself on television in the future.

With:Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Desmond Kelly as Cecil B. Bolton, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Tom McCrory as Alan, Paul McLaughlin as John, Tio Leota as Rico, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Perry Piercy as Cheryl Chapman, Brian Hotter as Nathan, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Jeremy Randerson as Grant, AJ Hickling as Wuming Quan Teacher, Olivia Mulholland as Caitlin, Juliane-Estella Bush as Melissa, Inia Maxwell as Floor Man, Phil Vaughan as TV Exec

Are you In Denial?

Episode 5
New Zealand: June 17, 2004
Australia: May 04, 2008
Written by Damien Wilkins with Peter Cox
Directed by

James tries to deny the surreal things that are happening to him, but becomes increasingly distressed as the monks assert that he is the reincarnation of Yu Ku'an Wu. When he time-slips again, he decides to fight whatever is happening by going to a rugby game and changing what he saw would happen in the future. Phil challenges William to make up for lost time, Tina and Julie's lives are thrown into turmoil when their mother turns up; and Kat stuns Sam when she tells him he's into commitment.

With: Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Peter Burger as Kevin, Pip Hall as Pregnant Woman, Olivia Mulholland as Caitlin, Shelley Probert as Nurse, John Shrapnell as Priest, James Stewart as IT Guy, Jamie McCaskill as Steve, Aaron Whyte as Maitre D', Mel Johnston as Midwife, Rhys Jordan as Parent

Do You Deserve To Be Happy?

Episode 6
New Zealand: June 24, 2004
Australia: May 11, 2008
Written by David Brechin-Smith
Directed by

As Phil's condition deteriorates, William comes to terms with his guilty past. Tina decides the money is bad karma and resolves to give it away - just as Sam re-enters her life. James finds out that Matthew is a dead guy but agrees to help him anyway.

With: Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Nick Fenton as Young William, Michael W. O'Dwyer as William's Father, Kerryn Palmer as William's Mother, Tony Burton as Medium, Esther Burdett as Corporate Woman

What If You Could Start Over?

Episode 7
New Zealand: July 01, 2004
Australia: May 18, 2008
Written by
Directed by

When James, Matthew and Tina take a ride together, they find themselves back in the past. Can they change history? And what would Matthew do if he did get a second chance? William saves a life and James ends up carrying the baby.

With: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Tom McCrory as Alan, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Tim Gordon as Denis, Vivien Bell as Bo, Narelle Ahrens as Pip, Stephen Butterworth as Jeff, Rosella Hart as Receptionist, Steve Wrigley as Photo Shop Guy, Estelle Clifford as Doctor, Phil Vaughan as TV Executive, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Janette Smidt as Policeman #1, Dave Martin as Policeman #2, Erica Lowe as Watch Shop Assistant

Will You Be Happy Tomorrow?

Episode 8
New Zealand: July 08, 2004
Written by David Brechin-Smith
Directed by

Julie's finished with Tim, but has he finished with her? The Old Monk decides it's time to go and James realises he's lost something special. Matthew attempts to live a normal life and Sam is back to his old ways.

With: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Tom McCrory as Alan, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Tim Gordon as Denis, Vivien Bell as Bo, Narelle Ahrens as Pip, Stephen Butterworth as Jeff, Rosella Hart as Receptionist, Steve Wrigley as Photo Shop Guy, Estelle Clifford as Doctor, Phil Vaughan as TV Executive, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Janette Smidt as Policeman #1, Dave Martin as Policeman #2, Erica Lowe as Watch Shop Assistant

Who Taught You To Be Happy?

Episode 9
New Zealand: July 15, 2004
Written by
Directed by

Tina has the worst birthday of her life and becomes convinced she's turning into her mother. Lindy and William break a condom, Matthew seeks solace in a kava den and James finds a new purpose in his life.

With: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Loren Horsley as Olive, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Paul McLaughlin as John, Des Morgan as Graeme, Cath Harkins as Maria, Jerome Leota as Rodney, Shelley Probert as Maternity Nurse, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Eve Carvell as Young Tina, Jed Thian as Samoan Guy, Tania Sawicki Mead as Checkout Operator

Being Happy is Being Who You Are

Episode 10
New Zealand: July 22, 2004
Australia: May 12, 2008
Written by
Directed by

James tries to do some good in the world, much to the disgust of his flatmate, Barry. Matthew takes on a client with trichotillomania, Lindy and William see their future differently, and Julie receives strange smelling flowers from an unknown source.

With: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Richard Chapman as Gene, Dra McKay as Bev, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Loren Horsley as Olive, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Luanne Gordon as Maxine, Tio Leota as Rico, Tofiga Sefo Fepulea'i as Michael, Kent Lambert as Dallas, Shelley Probert as Nurse, Frank Edwards as Terry, Matt Wilson as Graham, Barbara MacDonald as Lawyer, Sam Kelly as Man at Bank, Taylor Johnson as Woman at Bank, Kim Chung as Serena

Does Happiness Grow Up?

Episode 11
New Zealand: July 29, 2004
Australia: May 2012, 2008
Written by
Directed by

William has a sperm test and gets a surprise, while Lindy is increasingly attracted to a life in Canada. James becomes paralysed at the thought of asking Tina out, and Tess insists on meeting Matthew's parents with disastrous results.

With: na

Can You Embrace A New Life?

Episode 12
New Zealand: August 05, 2004
Written by
Directed by

Julie feels the baby is controlling her and worries that she will be a bad mother. Sam does his worst to get Tina back; the truth comes out between Lindy and William; and Tim begins the final countdown.

With: na

You Are Happy

Episode 13 (finale)
New Zealand: August 12, 2004
Written by
Directed by

A solar eclipse brings everything into alignment: Julie's baby decides to be born; Tim believes the end is nigh; Matthew gets the final call; and James and Tina get stuck in a carwash.

With: na