'middleman'

A pretty fine episode (although it has some odd cuts in it, such as when the main character is just about to molest? attack? fondle? a girl (Carole Yelland) and suddenly he's being roughed up by her crim associates).* The protagonist here, played by Alan Penney, is known only as Raincoat. He's a fence who went straight and he is clearly a sex, er, maniac. These are the final scenes of the show which as far as I'm concerned represent director John Jacob and/or David Hinrichsen paying homage to firstly, North by Northwest (the final double entendre) and Breathless (the last seconds of that film). 

It's arty yes but it works as well. 

The loving concentration on the railway bridges is in itself quite delightful too. 

Also, top marks to the set designer of this episode. Raincoat's living quarters are also a work of art.

You will be pleased or disappointed or unconcerned either way to know that after this I am onto the last full DVD compendium of D4. 

*What I wonder is whether Channel 9 insisted on cuts here in what is, if you count the nudie pictures on the wall, a pretty explicit ep. 

'billy's choice'

D4 7 October 1974, 'Billy's Choice'. It's a half decent storyline but what means the most to me is the marvellous three guest stars of Hilda Scurr, Keith Eden and John Stanton. YESSSS. And one other wonder (see below). 

Stanton is a mad bastard. 

Scurrfection! 

One scene with the amazeballs Denise. 

Scurr and Eden are terrific in this, a really sympathetic criminal couple (well he's a crim, she just deals with it). Great work everyone. 

lonely hearts/ fair cop

Just marvellous to see Joan Letch in an episode of D4 from 23 September 1974 called 'Lonely Hearts', as an actual character with, you know, character, called Lillian White. She's a policewoman, as you see, and she does things, she's not preposterous, she's not a nosy bitch or a bad neighbour, they should have made her a regular. Big mistake. 

The next episode is 'Fair Cop' which gives us the pleasure of seeing Crawfords stalwart Colin McEwan, as a criminal with the fabulous name of Earl Fowler...

...teamed with the solidly incredible Ross Higgins, as a slightly unethical policeman. Of course the two would be working together five years later in Kingswood Country. 

Behind Higgins there is the corner of Church and Bridge St Richmond, close to where the Orange Ice Cream Parlour used to but no longer stands

I'm guessing below is a version of the arcade that once and may still run behind those buildings. I haven't been there for a while. I'll check and get back to you.

And for what it's worth here's Higgins at the north end of Docker St, Richmond. Nothing too special about that, just always like to note when I can actually identify a place. 

script for my graphic novel part 1 - five years ago

1. The Rest of Quiglet

When you comet o

To find you’ve always

Been as tar

Stuck to the hot sole

As tar ters pistol

Finds you gone

1. 

A. Schiegel by his keyboard with a telephone on the floor.

B. THEN…

C. Phone: Ring Ring

D. Schiegel goes to answer it

E. Schiegel: Schiegel residence/ Yes this is he

F. Miss Carleton: Schiegel

G. Schiegel Is that you Miss Carleton what a lovely surprise

H. Miss Carleton:  I have a job for you, my dear man, should you choose to take it/ (with musical notes) Do you have much on? 

2. 

A. Schiegel: Not a lot 

Miss Carleton (on phone) Ooh la la! 

B. Miss Carleton: Well hold that thought lover boy meanwhile the foul wretches at Screen Gems want to utilize your talents

C. [Soon] (Schiegel in his car driving through town)

D. (Reception) Schiegel: Schiegel to see Mr Lomax 

Receptionist: He’s expecting you

E. Receptionist: Go right in/ Yeah/ Plz

F. Schiegel: Lomax

Lomax: Shiegel thank you for coming in at such short notice. 

Schiegel: Not a problem

G. Lomax: I’d like you to meet Geraldo Impertinu

Impertinu: Mr Schiegel! 

3. 

A. Impertinu: No doubt you are aware of the Quiglet, no? / Yes the movie series of the Quiglet./I have the honour to create it again for television / But… it needs the music! / The music! 

B. Impertinu: The music it must be jaunty yet young/ Severe yet bold/ Of the street/ Yet suitable for a princess’s penthouse party/ Audrey Hepburn yet Katherine Hepburn yet a wild factory carnival

4. 

A. Impertinu: The music my little mother made the week before she die.

B. Lomax: $75 and episode, and a hundred for the theme song. Deal? 

Schiegel: Deal

C. Schiegel: I look forward to working with you Mr Impertinu / Sorry about your mother

D. Impertinu: Eh? / Oh the bitch / She live

E: SOON

F: Schiegel playing keyboard, it makes musical note. Schiegel: Hmm

G. Schiegel (singing): What d’you call a 5-legged piglet? 

H. Schiegel (singing): A baby swan’s a cygnet… a baby twig’s a… um…/ No! 

(Pot plant falls from keyboard)

5. A. Pot: Smash

B. Schiegel: Damn it

C. Schiegel (playing piano again): Hmm…

D. [SIX MONTHS LATER]

E. Elyse: Napeel Wait up! 

F. Elyse: Napeeel!

G. Napeel: Oh/ Hello Elyse

H. Elyse: You said you’d walk me home today

 6. A. Napeel: And so we’re walking

B: Elyse: Are you going to do anything fun tonight Napeel?

C. Napeel: Oh, ‘fun’? Yeah I’ll have fun. / Snort

D: Elyse: Yeah? Are you gonna watch the t. v. 

Voice off  (Bobo): Hey! Napeel! Who’s your friend/ She’s hott!

Voice off 2: Ha ha 

E: Napeel: Get bent/ Don’t even talk to me Bobo

F: Bobo: Ha ha/ Truth hurts/Moll! 

Boy 2: Ha ha stinks

7. A. Bobo: Boo hoo don’t talk to me boo hoo

Boy 2: Stinks

B. Elyse: Who even was that

Napeel [fume]

C. Elyse: Do you know those boys?

D: Elyse: They were so rude to us.

E: Napeel: Please just change the subject Elyse

Elyse: OK

F. Elyse: There are new shows on TV tonight!

G. Elyse: Channel 7 has ‘Robot Country’

H. Elyse: Channel 9 has ‘Adventures of Kreemy Pudding’

I. Elyse: And Channel 0 has

J: Elyse: ‘The Rest of Quiglet’/ Which one will you watch, Napeel? 

8. A. Elyse: ‘Robot C…

Napeel: The last one.

Elyse: Me too! 

B. [LATER…]

C. Elyse: Can I eat my dessert in front of the T. V. Mrs Lane?

D. Mrs Lane: What would your parents say, Elyse?

Elyse: They’d say yes

E. Mrs Lane (thinks): Sigh

F. Mrs Lane: Then/Yes

G. Elyse in front of television

H. Television: [Now]

I. (Title) The rest of Quiglet

J. (Theme song) A girl called Quiglet/ Can appear at any minute/ Like a pot plant breaking on the floor/ Or a naked woman on the telephone

9. A. [Starring]

B. (Theme Song): Just as there may be/ A wild factory carnival somewhere/ And death is in the streets/ But love is above and around.

C. [Grace Mannix as Quiglet]

D. (Theme Song): Quiglet’s just a girl but what a girl!/ She never rests/ She has a dog, a bird, a Daddy and a robot maid! Robot! 

E. [Patrick Delisle as Danny]

F. [Jane Hemingway-Pye as Billie]

G. [Rod Sims as Daddy]

H. [and ‘Biltong’ as Suzy Sprocket].

10 (all on TV)

A.     [Establishing shot of house]

B.     Daddy: Quiglet! Quiglet!

C.     Daddy Quiglet!

Quiglet: Yes Daddy

D.    Daddy: Have you seen my new glasses?

E.     Quiglet: Daddy we had this conversation/ Yes I have

F.     Quiglet: And they do not suit you [laughter]

G.     Daddy: But I need them to read!

Quiglet: Do you want to read or do you want to look good [laughter]

H.    Suzy Sprocket: Klik – Teenagers – Klik [laughter]

11. 

A. Elyse (thinks): Quiglet looks a bit like Napeel/ In the antlers anyway

B. Mrs Lane: That robot is very sassy

C. Elyse (thinks): Where did you learn a fancy word like that

D. Mrs Lane: I was sassy myself in my day

E. Mrs Lane: You’re lucky I lost my sass 

F. Mrs Lane: Else I’d sass you good Elyse

12.

A. Lomax [on phone]: So if we get both episodes done before she goes on break…

B. Schiegel [on phone]: Makes sense/ I think I can do it

C. Lomax [on phone]: It will be tight. 

D. Schiegel [on phone]: There can be no mistakes. No room for…

E. Lomax [on phone]: (giggle)/no room for error

F. Schiegel [on phone]: (laugh) I won’t let you down. 

G. Lomax [on phone]: (laughing loudly) You will need to come on set!

13 (all on TV)

A.     [Establishing shot of house]

B.     Suzy Sprocket: Klik - Ms Quiglet! You have water in your eye Klik!/Did you spill your soda klik? 

C.     Quiglet: Oh Suzy Sprocket/ I’m just sad

D.    Suzy: What is sad?

E.     Quiglet: It’s something silly… teenagers feel sometimes/ I’m missing my mom

F.     Suzy: Klik Missing? Like when your Daddy try to hit the golf ball? Klik [laughter]

G.     Quiglet: No, missing – like – I wish she wasn’t dead. [audience hush]

H.    Suzy Sprocket: Klik – Who do you wish dead? I am enabled to kill! – Klik [laughter]

14. 

A. Schiegel standing in corner taking notes

B. Ace: You thinking what I’m thinking, Schiegel?

C. Schiegel: I doubt it, Ace. I’m thinking a bass run under this dialogue

D. Ace: What… wow! / Our conversation? / You’re scoring it?

E. Schiegel [eye roll]: Under the conversation on the show.

F. Ace: Man, this show. Man!

G. Ace: It sucks like the final drag on a sweet doobie.

H. [Sees Grace Mannix] But that Mannix! /What a honey.

15.  

A. Impertinu: This… how to leave from this.

B. Raydot [consulting script]: Well, Daddy comes in with a pie.

C. Impertinu: Is that real? / My Daddy hated pie.

D. Raydot: It leads to the whole pie and cream storyline, Impy

E. Impertinu: Do you feel it? / Do you?

F. Raydot: I… Who’s that? 

16.

A. Raydot: Excuse me, do you work here? 

B. Schiegel: Sure, Raydot, we’ve spoken four or five times today

C. Raydot: I’m Raydot, Mr. Impertinu’s continuity. We’re looking for someone to insert here

D. Raydot: Just knock on the door, and come in with the pie

E. [Door] Knock Knock

F. Quiglet (drying eyes): Who could that be? 

17. 

A. [Door opened on Schiegel] Schiegel: I… I have the pie

B. Their eyes meet.

C. Impertinu: CUT!

D. Impertinu: That was the best I have ever… everybody! / everybody!

E. Impertinu: You have just witnessed born a star. 

18. 

A. Impertinu: I want him under contract

Raydot: He already works here. The music.

B. Impertinu: He is perfect. In every way. / I love the music. 

C. Raydot: Can you come back tomorrow?/ We need more you this episode. 

D. Schiegel: I have a studio date/ Music for the two…

E. Raydot: This is more important

F. Ace: I know a musician. 

19. 

A. Elyse: Napeel 

B. Elyse: Napeel!

C. Elyse: I said have you heard the Suzy Sprocket album?

D. Napeel: I don’t know what that… means

E: Elyse: From The Rest of Quiglet! Suzy Sprocket. She’s made an album!

F. Elyse: You like albums! I do too! 

20. 

Biltong is… Suzy Sprocket MAID OF TITANIUM

Quiglet Theme

This Wheel’s on Fire

I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Interface 

To Circuit With Love

I Want to Hold your Handle

TV Eye

Serve and Destroy

Cog in my Sprocket

And two more! 

Klik Groovy Klik! 

Conducted by Schiegel

21. 

A. Elyse: Napeel, Biltong was a refuggee.

B. Napeel: It’s pronounced refugee. 

C. Elyse: They run ball games right? 

D. Elyse: They tell people, like ‘that was in’ and…

E. Elyse: They say ‘It’s a goal’ and…? Napeel?

F. Napeel: Leave me alone. Just leave me the frig alone. 

22. (all on TV)

A.     [Establishing shot of house]

B.     Schiegel: Gee, Quiglet. Gee 

C.     Quiglet: I know Schiegel. Gee.

D.    Schiegel: It’s all happened so fast.

E.     Quiglet: Too fast? Is it too fast? Because… 

F.     Schiegel: No, no, not too fast. Just fast enough.

G.     Quiglet: I’m glad you think so.

23. 

A. Impertinu: End the scene. Camera off. 

B. Raydot: Cut! 

C. Impertinu: Yes, yes, is the way it should be.

D. Raydot: Schiegel’s people want to renegotiate his contract, Impy.

E. Impertinu: Why are there people. Who needs people?

F. Raydot: He’s basically equal star with Grace now. They make Schiegel dolls, Impy.

G. Impertinu: He should be glad of exposure. My Daddy…

H. I know, Impy. Died of exposure. It’s not what I want to hear.

24. 

A. Schiegel and Grace in the conversation pit.

B. They kiss

C. THEN…

D. Phone: Ring Ring

E. Schiegel answers it

F. Schiegel: Schiegel residence/ Yes this is he

G. Miss Carleton: Schiegel

H. Schiegel: Miss Carleton what a lovely surprise

25. 

A. Miss Carleton: Is she there? 

B. Schiegel: You mean Grace? 

C. Miss Carleton: You know who I mean. 

D. Schiegel: Then you know that she is.

E. Miss Carleton: I’m pulling you from the show, Schiegel. They’re not agreeing to our needs. 

F. Schiegel: The money doesn’t matter Barbara. I have everything I want.