australian television information archive

Genesis

Episode 01
Story by Stephen Alix
Teleplay by Stephen Alix & Glenn Norman
Directed by William Fruet

The Battle of Richmond, March 20, 1865: Captured by Confederate forces, a small group of prisoner escape their captors and flee in a helium balloon. Rising into the sky, the travelers and their balloon are carried away by strong winds and soon find themselves over open water.
Upon attempting to land, the balloon descends uncontrollably (helped along by a man observing from an island below) forcing the group to climb into the rigging and release the basket to remain aloft in hopes of reaching the island before they plunge into the ocean. Struggling to stay in the air, Captain Harding sacrafices himself to the ocean, allowing the balloon to slow its descent and reach the island.
Exploring the island for signs of civilization with Neb, Herbert becomes trapped in a rock pool as the tide comes in threatening to drown him. Neb manages to rescue Herbert (with unseen help). Herbert and Neb enter into a cave where they encounter signs of habitation.

Guest cast: Ross Duncan, Matthew Chamberlain, Anthony Scott

Down Under

Episode 02
Story by Stephen Alix
Teleplay by Stephen Alix & Glenn Norman
Directed by William Fruet

Herbert and Neb find Captain Harding alive in the cave but he has no memory of how he got there, only of slipping below the waves after jumping from the balloon. Reunited, Harding, Spilett and Neb decide to climb to the top of a mountain to get their bearings. Along the way they stop at a pool where Spilett takes a swim only to get attacked by an unseen creature, eventually escaping to the safety of the shore. Meanwhile, Jack and Herbert go off hunting but Herbert can't bring himself to kill. They come across a cave and inside they find an alter and a gold plate. They become trapped when the entrance closes up. Unable to dig their way out and with hope seemingly vanishing, a green light draws their attention to an underwater exit that leads them back to the sea and the arms of their companions.

Safe Haven

Episode 03
Story by Stephen Alix
Teleplay by Michelle Goodeve
Directed by William Fruet

Following an earthquake, the group decides to seek shelter further inland. When a landslide strikes, Gideon becomes trapped beneath some large boulders. Harding and Neb set out to find materials to make an explosive change but Neb is overcome by sulfur fumes and must be pulled to safely by Harding. The final item on Cyrus's list turns up seemingly out of thin air allowing him to formulate an explosive to free Gideon. Traveling on, Neb falls down into a cave complex which becomes the group's new home, christened "Granite House" by Gideon. While fishing, Neb and Herbert pull an old sea chest out of the ocean. Returning to camp for asistance, Neb is hit by the effects of eating wild berries and loses his sight while atop a dangerous precipice and loses his footing…

White Water

Episode 04
Written by Jim Purdy
Directed by William Fruet

Neb is rescued when a vine is lowered to him, although when Captain Harding and Herbert arrive, both deny being responsible. For Harding, it is another sign that they are not alone on the island. When the sea chest is brought back to Granite House it is found to contain a wealth of ship building tools and other supplies. Eager to get to work on a new boat, the group set out to look for materials and come across the remains of their balloon. Transporting it back down river, their raft overturns in the rapids and washes Pencroft, Gideon and Neb towards a raging waterfall. When all hands are safely rescued, the castaways return home to discover their home has been visited while they were away. Herbert and his father take their new boat out on its maiden voyage but encounter an unknown force at sea that pulls Herbert overboard…

A Death in the Family

Episode 05
Written by Glenn Norman
Directed by Peter Sharp

Jack leaps into the water to rescue his son from the unseen menace and they swim to the safety of the shore where Gideon has found a bottle. Back at Granite House a message is pulled from the bottle‹written by a fellow castaway on the island! Jack, Herbert and Gideon set out on a test voyage in their boat to locate the castaway. They find his well-stocked camp and gather up supplies as no one is in sight. Mr Ayrton soon makes an appearance and Herbert convinces his father to take him back with them. Meanwhile, Joanne, while out by herself gathering plants, is overcome by Nemo's gas devise and falls unconscous. When Neb goes to search for her, he too is overcome but before he collapses, he sees Nemo approach. Back in Nemo's lair, Nemo posions Neb, making it appear to be from a snake bit. Harding later finds Neb's body and a memorial service is held, with Harding biding a tearful farewell to his dear friend.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton

Love Thy Neighbour

Episode 01
Written by Glenn Norman
Directed by Peter Sharp

While the castaways grieve for Neb, Nemo revives him and puts him into suspended animation storage. Pencroft's jealousy leads him to hunt down Ayrton. Harding soon realizes the phantom presence on the island is causing the castaways to turn against one another.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton

All That Glitters

Episode 07
Written by Michelle Goodeve
Directed by Mark Beesley

Pirate Captain Cutler and three of his crew come to the island to collect their buried treasure and seek revenge on Ayrton, whose dark past is revealed.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton, Kevin Wilson as Captain Cutler, John Dybvig as Smyth(?), Lawrence Wharerau as Stevens(?), Stephen Papps as Luke(?)

The Price of Vengeance

Episode 08
Written by Michelle Goodeve
Directed by Mark Beesley

Joanna is caught in an underwater trap and Harding is furious when Nemo takes the ultimate revenge.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton, Kevin Wilson as Captain Cutler

The Phantom's Lair

Episode 09
Written by Greg McGee
Directed by Chris Bailey

Harding dives into Nemo's lair beneath the lake and is trapped in a chamber. Gideon is awakened by an intruder.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton, uncredited as Ovelanui

It Should be an Englishman

Episode 10
Written by Susan Snooks & Scott Barrie
Directed by Chris Bailey

A tribe of native Islanders arrive on the island in search of Nui, a young native girl they believe has special significance.

Guest cast: Frank Whitten as Ayrton, uncredited as Ovelanui, uncredited as islanders

No One Rules Me

Episode 11
Written by Peter Sharp
Directed by Peter Sharp

Nemo observes Harding's feelings about Joanna, manifested in romantic dreams, as part of his research into the workings of the human mind. Meanwhile, Joanna is trapped by an earthquake while Herbert discovers a cryptic note from Ayrton.

Guest cast: Glynnis Paraha as Katira, Jaesen Kanter as Tenewa, Jay Laga'aia as Tenape, Chantelle Bowkett as Mahina

He's Not Heavy

Episode 12
Written by Arthur Baysting
Directed by Peter Sharp

Nemo intercepts a canoe and brings a wise old native woman to the island as a culture clash experience, but finds himself face to face with a superior power. Joanna's stand for women's rights has unexpected consequences.

Guest cast: Glynnis Paraha as Katira, Jaesen Kanter as Tenewa, Jay Laga'aia as Tenape, Chantelle Bowkett as Mahina

Make Yourselves at Home

Episode 13
Written by Glenn Norman
Directed by Chris Bailey

Nemo fulfills a promise to Katira to bring the rest of her people to the island, then watches with glee as the natives take over Granite House and send the castaways into exile.

Guest cast: Glynnis Paraha as Katira, Jaesen Kanter as Tenewa, Jay Laga'aia as Tenape, Chantelle Bowkett as Mahina

First Impressions are Skin Deep

Episode 14
Story by Sean Ryerson
Written by Sean Ryerson & Stephen Batt
Directed by Chris Bailey

A tattooed native man arrives on the island telling the castaways that he is on a spiritual quest. Nemo is delighted when his presence has a disruptive influence on the group.

Guest cast: Cliff Curtis as Peter, Robin Kora as Chief, Peter McCauley as Mr Spilett, Carmel McGlone as Mrs Spilett, Daniel Chilton as young Gideon (1), Nicko Vella as young Gideon (2), Nick Gopperth as ?

Gideon's Tale

Episode 15
Written by Stephen Batt
Directed by Ken Girotti

Herbert realizes that it is his birthday, but decides to keep it a secret. He is angry because he thinks Joanna has forgotten, and while she prepares a surprise gift for him, he decides to find a way to leave the island.

Guest cast: Robin Kora as Chief, Peter McCauley as Mr Spilett, Carmel McGlone as Mrs Spilett, Daniel Chilton as young Gideon (1), Nicko Vella as young Gideon (2), Nick Gopperth as ?

Last Rites of Spring

Episode 16
Written by Glen Norman
Directed by Christine Parker

When pirates bring two women to the island, Nemo uses the situation to study human mating habits. The women, meanwhile, set their sights on Gideon and Herbert, which encourages the men into a near fatal show of male bravado.

Guest cast: Lisa Chappell as Jane Morecombe, Rebekah Mercer as Priscilla Hawthorne, Robert Bruce as Jacob, Joel Tobeck as Jake

Labours Lost

Episode 17
Written by Barbara March
Directed by Christine Parker

Joanna argues with Herbert after a dream about a baby, and leaves the Granite House, headed for Ayrton's cabin. She has an accident on the way there, and is rescued by Nemo, who drugs her and questions her, learning she is pregnant with Jack's baby, but is afraid of childbirth.

The Visitor

Episode 18
Written by Stephen Batt & Sean Ryerson
Directed by Chris Bailey

Nemo's hidden camera in Granite House breaks down, so he disguises himself as a shipwrecked Englishman in order to gain admittance into the house to fix the equipment.

Guest cast: John Cairney as Sebastian Nile

What Are You Afraid Of?

Episode 19
Story by Janine Dickins
Written by Janine Dickins & Sean Ryerson
Directed by Chris Bailey

A series of accidents leads Harding to come face to face with the mysterious phantom, and he struggles with how to share the shocking truth.

Plan and Attack

Episode 20
Written by Sean Ryerson
Directed by John Laing

The castaways share their experiences with the phantom and realize he may be their only hope of escaping the island.

A Pact With the Devil

Episode 21
Written by Sean Ryerson & Stephen Batt
Directed by John Laing

Nemo reveals to Harding that his need to complete his experiment is greater than his desire to help the castaways off the island, and Harding is forced to cut a deal.

Guest cast: Henry Asamoah as Neb

Going, Going...

Episode 22
Written by Sean Ryerson
Directed by John Laing

Harding carries out his part of the deal with Nemo, and the other castaways are enraged, moving from the Granite House into a makeshift hut on the beach, and prompting Nemo to announce his experiment is complete.

Guest cast: Henry Asamoah as Neb