australian television information archive

I'm A Swan

Episode 1.01
Thursday, August 15, 1013
927,000 viewers (6th)
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

When Bess Denyar, a successful doctor with an architect husband, an overbearing mother and twin thirteen year olds at a private school, finds out that she is adopted, she is stunned. Even more so when she is reunited with her birth parents. Wayne and Julie Wheeler, parents also to Amber, Kayne and Brianna, head up a drag racing team in the outer suburbs and are shocked and thrilled to discover the daughter they thought they had lost is now found.

Starring: Annie Maynard as Bess, Patrick Brammall as Danny, Robyn Malcolm as Julie, Michala Banas as Amber, Rhys Mitchell as Kayne, Madeleine Jevic as Brianna, Lara Robinson as Edwina, Harrison Feldman as Oscar, Dougie Baldwin as Shawn, Glenn Robbins as Wayne, Robyn Nevin as Margaret

With: Dave Thornton as Troy, Kane Flesinger as Sam, Bert Labonte as Constable Miklis, Eddie Baroo as Scary Patient, Anthea Kondos as Nurse

Forefathers, Two Mothers

Episode 1.02
Thursday, August 22, 2013
861,000 viewers (9th)
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

Still struggling with the news that she's adopted, Bess is angry with Margaret for lying to her all these years and refuses to speak to her. Instead, she concentrates on getting to know Wayne and Julie, her real parents, who, eager to make up for lost time, are keen to reciprocate. Everyone tries hard to get on, in the hope that the two families will quickly feel like one big family. However, when there's a misunderstanding over picking up a bill, it seems that being one big happy family may take longer than everyone hoped.

With: Robyn Butler as Cathy, Ben Grogan as The Smash, Laura Dunemann as Receptionist, Eleanor Webster as Hockey Teacher, Nicholas Bell as French Man, Chloe Boreham as French Woman, Naomi Kilmany as Adriana, Tamala Shelton as Chloe, Nicole Freeman as Sophia, Yoshaan Vincent as Delivery Man, Madeleine O'Shannassy as Shop Assistant, Arenwy Abliyie as Ari, Kaida Bernardo as Ming Le, Chris Goodall as Gay Couple Man #1, Chris Billy as Gay Couple Man #2, Sonya Scriberras as Mother, Richard Davine as ATM Man

Your Roots Are Showing

Episode 1.03
Thursday, August 29, 2013
823,000 viewers (9th)
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

When Wayne and Julie give Bess a 'Hot Lap' — a ride in a V8 Supercar, to make up for all the birthdays they've missed, Bess is shocked to discover that she is a natural behind the wheel of a very fast car. Convinced now that she is actually a "Wheeler", Bess sets about making herself as much like the rest of the Wheeler family as she can. Amber Wheeler is determined to let Bess know she is NOT a Wheeler and never will be, and despite Bess insisting she is, when she's really challenged, she doesn't know who she is or where she belongs.

With: Wayne Hope as Tony, Marco Chiappi as Mr. Lloyd, Dave Warneke as Conway, Glenys Armstrong as Zumba Instructor, Robbie Clissold as Bess Stunt Double, Russell Frost as Amber Stunt Double

Picture Perfect

Episode 1.04
Thursday, September 05, 2013
881,000 viewers (9th)
Story by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Teleplay by Tony Martin
Directed by Tony Martin

Bess arranges a lunch for her two mothers, Margaret and Julie, which ends in disaster when Julie, unaware of Bess' allergies, puts peanuts in the meal and Bess goes into anaphylactic shock. Julie feels terrible for giving Bess up for adoption and presents her with a rather unusual gift. When Margaret discovers the photoshopped picture she is furious and she and Julie fight. It's up to Bess to tell both women they are, in fact, both her mothers and no one can change the past, they can only share the future.

With: Dave Thornton as Troy Van Winkle, Ben Ridgwell as Brian, Noel Herriman as Lawnmower Man, Tony Moclair as X-Ray Man, Justin Hamilton as TV Man, Tahu Marumaru as Surgeon

No Angel

Episode 1.05
Thursday, September 12, 2013
687,000 viewers (12th)
Story by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Teleplay by Gary McCaffrie
Directed by Wayne Hope

Danny is devastated when daughter Edwina wants to quit the bassoon. Danny loves playing the bassoon with his little girl. He doesn't know that since the kids in Edwina's private school orchestra found out about her newly discovered extended family, they have relentlessly bullied her. Edwina can't talk to Danny about it, but she can talk to her cousin, Shawn, who understands.While Bess is thrilled her two families are coming together, when Danny finds out that Shawn and Edwina have skipped school and gone dirt bike riding, he freaks out, jumping to all sorts of wrong conclusions. Danny is mortified when he realises what is really going on and is ashamed he's acted like a snob. Thankfully, Edwina makes everything alright by inviting all the Wheelers to her music concert, where she plays the bassoon… in a way no one expects.

With: Dave Thornton as Troy Van Winkle, Sue Jones as Pat, Steven Gates as Mr. Papps, Naomi Kilmany as Adriana, Tamala Shelton as Chloe, Nicole Freeman as Sophia, Sebastien Harvey as Harley, Najib Bahrami as Ticket Collector

Choir performance arranged by Craig Pilkington, performed by The Princes Hill Secondary School Jazz Choir

Behind You!

Episode 1.06
Thursday, September 19, 2013
698,000 viewers (11th)
Story by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Teleplay by Gary McCaffrie and Robyn Butler
Directed by Tony Martin

After backing into another car, Wayne is forced to take a driving test because of his glass eye. Although he insists he can still drive perfectly, Julie can see he's been struggling. When he fails the reverse park component of his test, Wayne is crushed. Losing his licence is worse than losing his eye, especially too, as it happens at a time when he feels his family doesn't need him any more. So when Bess asks him to help her with a bullying surgeon at work, he jumps at the chance. Bess is thrilled that Wayne has come to her rescue, unaware she has also come to his. And when Bess notices Wayne's driving dilemma is only a reversing issue and is able to fix the problem, Wayne regains not only his licence but also his self-respect.

With: Kim Gyngell as Mr. Widdicombe, Tony Martin as Barry, Bert Labonte as Constable Miklis, Gareth Yuen as Lin, Winefred Diasnes as Patient, Russell Frost as Road Rage Driver, Robbie Clissold as Lin Stunt Double

Don't Over Think It

Episode 1.07
Thursday, September 26, 2013
673,000 viewers (11th)
Story by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Teleplay by Tony Martin
Directed by Tony Martin

Bess is cross with Margaret for not taking her diabetes seriously and refusing to exercise, so when Brianna becomes a qualified fitness instructor she sees an opportunity to help both her adoptive mother and her older sister. Margaret reluctantly agrees to train with Brianna but, truthfully, only because she thinks it will make Bess jealous. Bess, so unaccustomed to having Margaret's attention anywhere but on her, feels threatened when Brianna gets close to her adoptive mother. Brianna is upset when she discovers what Margaret has been up to, but Margaret insists that it isn't true… any more. She likes Brianna and really can talk to her. Margaret finds herself talking to Brianna about her past in a way she has never done before.

With: Sue Jones as Pat, Travis Bird as Man in Lycra, Chloe Foster as Waitress, Russell Frost as Brianna Stunt Double

Nationals

Episode 1.08
Thursday, October 03, 2013
602,000 viewers (13th)
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

Bess, Danny, Margaret and the kids arrive at a dingy motel for the drag racing championships. Danny is cross because Bess has cancelled their anniversary weekend away to attend, but Bess really wants to support team Wheeler. So much so, that when the engine blows up in the dragster and the Wheelers can't afford a second engine, Bess foots the bill after hearing Amber say they couldn't lose the race. But when the dragster fails to start in the grand final, team Wheeler does lose, and Bess loses her money. She's furious with Amber, Danny's furious with Bess, and — unexpectedly — Wayne and Julie are furious with her too. They didn't want her money; they already feel like they owehertoomuch.Misunderstanding their anger, Bess severs ties with the Wheelers, until Wayne and Julie prove to her how she will always be part of their lives.

With: Bob Franklin as Bob, Roz Hammond as Sandi, Jacquie Brennann as Celia, John Leary as Terry, Syd Brisbane as Farmer, Scott Parmeter as Race Official