australian television information archive

Paradise Regained

Episode 1
February 03, 1998
Written by Peter McCabe
Directed by Ian Barry

We meet David Grief and his Polynesian partner, Mauriri Lepau, two ambitious, adventurous traders working out of the beautiful town of Matavai in the tropical paradise of Tahiti. When Grief and Mauriti's ship, The Rattler, is commandeered by the local authorities to transport prisoners to a nearby penal colony, they meet a young English woman named Isabelle Reed, accused of murder.

Starring: William Snow as David Grief, Rene Naufahu as Mauriri Lepau, Rachel Blakely as Isabelle Reed, Rowena King as Lavinia Timoto, Mark Lee as Reverend Colin Trent, Kimberley Joseph as Claire Devon, Adrian Wright as Lieutenant Jean Morlais

Guest Starring: Gottfried John as Kurt Gunter, Lani John Tupu as Caleb Trader, Julian Garner as Harry Pankburn, Anthony Hawkins as Bishop Jamieson, Jay Laga'aia, Mark Gerber, Robyn Loau as Leiani, Frederick Desmond Power Snr

Also Appearing: Willie Hona, Jim Kelly, Eric Long, Tahnee Khalu, Alvin Ohelert

Note: the episodes' credits do not contain character names but I've filled them in where I can.

The Devil's Pearl

Episode 2
February 10, 1998
Written by Peter McCabe
Directed by Donald Crombie

An exotic black pearl suspected of having supernatural powers finds its way into Matavai and into Grief's possession. A mysterious foreigner arrives to claim it. When Grief refuses, the man warns the adventurer that he will take Lavinia's soul instead if it is not returned.

Guest Starring: Bruce Spence as Naari Hering, Robert Grubb, as Van Geld, Martin Jacobs as Jim Lodge, Marcus Eyre, Sani Muliaumaseali'i, Zac Wallace, Kee Chan as Peter Ling, Terry Binding as Mrs Branford

Also Appearing: Mark Banks, Brad Connors, Berni Gibbs, Geoff Stewart-McLean, Andrew Waters

The Locket

Episode 3
February 17, 1998
Written by Peter McCabe
Directed by Donald Crombie

Isabelle reed is finally captured by the authorities and placed in the Matavai jail. She sends to Grief a locket which she claims will prove her innocence. Still infatuated by the mysterious Isabelle, Grief takes it upon himself to look into her case.

Guest Starring: Luciano Martucci as Mason, Barry Langrishe as Colonel Mills, Anthony Ingersent, John Allen as Magistrate, Robert Hughes as Paul Cabot, Andrew Rodoreda as Charles

Also Appearing: Alistair Crombie, James Conelius, Chris Heskpeth, Matt Wright

Lessons for a Warrior

Episode 4
February 24, 1998
Teleplay by Lichael Norell & Cynthia Cherbak
Story by Peter McCabe
Directed by Scott Hartford-Davis

After two thieves steal artifacts from a church and kill a priest, Grief sets off to avenge the death of his old friend. Meanwhile, Mauriri's nephew enters warrior school even though his uncle would rather have him go to college. Writer Claire Devon arrives from London.

Guest Starring: George Henare as Cabanga, Jerome Ehlers, Wayne Pygram, Taungaroa Emile as Atara, Brian Vriends as Cannibal Jack, Robyn Loau as Leiani, Brian Harrison as Father Paul, Boris Brkic, Bruce Hughes as Roger Addison

Also Appearing: Tahnee Khalu, Tevaki Lepau, Joel Youse

Note: Kimberley Joseph's first appearance

Trent In Love

Episode 5
March 03, 1998
Teleplay by Jennifer Cecil
Story by Peter McCabe
Directed by Ian Barry

Grief and Lavinia work to keep their relationship on track. However, Lavinia becomes doubtful when Grief is given the daughter of a tribal chief in a trade transaction. Luckily, the Reverend Trent takes a liking to her.

Guest Starring: Chuti Tiu as Tahura Savue, Brian Vriends as Cannibal Jack, Bruce Hughes as Roger Addison, Tuvae Toleafoa as Chief Haro, Abigail Bianca as Celeste Ambrose, John Noble as Christian Ambrose

Also Appearing: Brad Carrigan, Harley Djenic, Scott O'Donnell, Greg Power, Sean Rigby, John Walton

The Fiery Messiah

Episode 6
March 10, 1998
Teleplay by Lynn Mamet
Story by Peter McCabe
Directed by Scott Hartford-Davis

A religious cult based on another island gains a foothold on Matavai. Several young natives are seduced by its charismatic leader, Robert Frye, who has Claire kidnapped to become his bride. Reverend Trent is tested and willing to fight the narrow-minded attitudes of his parishioners to be with the woman who has captured his heart.

Guest Starring: Chuti Tiu as Tahura Savue, John Waters as Robert Frye, William Tanner, Massey Smith

Also Appearing: Mark Banks, John Hudson, Willie Hona, Lynley Jen, Hagar Quirke

Blackbirding

Episode 7
March 17, 1998
Teleplay by Sean Clark
Story by Peter McCabe
Directed by Ian GIlmour

Blackbirding — the South Seas expression for slave-trading of natives — had for all intends and purposes come to a halt a few years before our show takes place. However, several native tribes have recently been decimated of its youngest, strongest citizens. Isabelle once again lends Grief a hand in finding what has happened to the islanders, when she finds her new business a part of the crime.

Guest Starring: Chuti Tiu as Tahura Savue, Brian Vriends as Cannibal Jack, Rod Mullinar as Lothar Voss, Anthony Hawkins as Bishop Jamieson, Peter Hardy as Briggs, Ian Bliss as Slade, Tuvae Toleafoa as Chief Haro, Cramer Cain as Nukoro

Also Appearing: Sione Manuella, Ron Vreeken

The Rabblercrouser

Episode 8
March 24, 1998
Written by Karen Harris
Directed by Donald Crombie

A woman named Sarah Blanchard arrives in Matavai. Lavinia befriends her and feels great respect and admiration for her, although she is troubled by Grief's reaction to her. Sarah and her husband bring the new concept of worker unions to the island, which causes a great deal of tension between the plantation owners and the natives.

Guest Starring: John Bach as Miller, Nicholas Hammond as Henry Blanchard, Bartholomew John, Dee Smart as Sarah Blanchard, John Hudson, Rob Nicholls

Also Appearing: Michael Clarke, Clint Cunial, Jared Mea, William Tanner

Isabelle's Brother

Episode 9
March 31, 1998
Teleplay by Jeffrey Bloom
Story by [not shown]
Directed by Ian Gilmour

A man Grief and Mauriri rescue from a bar fight turns out to be William Reed, the older brother Isabelle though had died when she was a child. William is on the run from the French Foreign Legion to marry a close friend of Lavinia's. After witnessing William's devotion to his betrothed, Lavinia begins to have doubts about her relationship with David Grief.

Guest Starring: Peter McCauley as William Reed, Robert Taylor as Bounty Hunter, Alexander Petersens as Bounty Hunter, Brian Vriends as Cannibal Jack, Michelle Huirama as Alea

Also Appearing: Greg Blandy, Alistair Crombie, Jim Kelly, Allen Minniecon, David Woodley

Note: William Snow, Rachel Blakely, and guest star Peter McCauley would all go on to star in The Lost World

The Boxer Rebellion

Episode 10
April 07, 1998
Written by Jennifer Cecil
Directed by [not shown]

A young man whom Grief and Mauriri rescue from a ship explosion turns out to have been an unwitting accomplice in an unscrupulous arms shipment. Meanwhile, Clare decides to start the island's first newspaper.

Guest Starring: David Roberts as Klaus Helman, Dan Halbert as Dietrich, Elton Hayes as Buru Hai, Robyn Loau as Leiani

Also Appearing: Alistair Crombie, Steve Kelly, Tahnee Khalu, Rod Kruse, Sean Millis, Alvin Oehlert, Russell Thornley

The Statue

Episode 11
April 14, 1998
Written by Peter McCabe
Directed by Donald Crombie

For the first time since his break-up with Lavinia, Grief finds himself attracted to another woman: the beautiful Veronica Gray, assistant to archaeologist Paul Kelstrom. The pair have come to Tahiti to excavate artefacts for museums but the natives wish the items to be left undisturbed, and Mauriti begins to suspect Kelstrom and Veronica are up to more than just acquisition when an archaeologist who supports the native views is murdered.

Guest Starring: Imogen Annesley as Veronica Gray, Joe Petruzzi as Paul Kelstrom, Brian Meegan as Jackson Heller, Taungaroa Emile as Atara, Joe Bugner as Tiny

Also Appearing: Alvin Ohelert, Tahnee Khalu, Simon Millis, Matthew Hayler, Alastair Crombie

Fool's Gold

Episode 12
April 21, 1998
Written by Mike Sussman
Directed by Scott Hartford-Davis

Isabelle falls prey to a scam run by a con artist in which she loses her own and some of Reverend Trent's church money when she buys property she has been led to believe contains gold. Back in Matavai, Lavinia's involvement with a French naval officer makes Grief question whether letting her go was the right decision.

Guest Starring: Andrew McFarlane as Leo Walsh, Simon Westaway as Argus, Damian Monk as Lars, Jeremy Callaghan as Lacombe, Zac Wallace as One-Eyed Charlie

Also Appearing: Danielle Carter, Warwick Young as Bruce Bertram

The Assassin

Episode 13
April 28, 1998
Teleplay by Lynn Mamet
Story by Peter McCabe
Directed by Colin Budds

A sailor is fatally stabbed in a knife fight in Lavinia's bar, but with his dying breath, he manages to tell Grief that someone important is about to be assassinated in Matavai. Unfortunately, because of the sailor's shady past, Grief is the only one who gives credence to the man's confession. Meanwhile, a young German missionary has come to observe Trent's work in Matavai while awaiting his own posting.

Guest Starring: Brett Climo as Harold Brenner, Nicholas Bell as Major, Kate Agnew as Emma Jenkins, Andrew McKaige as Gordon Jenkins, Anthony Whitfield

Also Appearing: Jim Kelly, Geoff Stewart McLean, Samantha Martin

The Outlaws

Episode 14
May 05, 1998
Written by Tim Davis, Elinor Jewett
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Grief loses a bet to a trio of Americans and must escort them on horseback through dangerous territory to their new homestead. It isn't long before he realizes that the trio are outlaws. Meanwhile, in Matavai, Clare has a new beau, a young soldier, but she is reticent to throw herself into the relationship, all too aware that a soldier's existence is ephemeral at best.

Guest Starring: Melissa George as Kat, Grant Piro as Brodie Chance, Doug Penty as Luke Chance, Daniel Roberts as Dupre

Also Appearing: Anthony Whitfield, Brad Connors

Fatal Shore

Episode 15
May 12, 1998
Written by Peter McCabe
Directed by Donald Crombie

An Irish rogue named McCoy arrives in Matavai and offers Grief, Mauriri, and Isabelle a hefty reward to help him capture the sadistic prison warden, Frayne, who had tortured him daily for ten years.

Guest Starring: Robert Coleby as Daniel McCoy, Tim Hughes as Jessup, Nick Sampson as Hadley, Brian Vriends as Cannibal Jack

Also Appearing: Jay Mannering, David Carter

Fast Company

Episode 16
May 19, 1998
Written by Phyllis Strong
Directed by Brendan Maher

Successful businessman Steven De Guerre, a childhood friend of Lavinia and Mauriti, returns to Matavai to share his new-found success. He has managed to make his fortune in the liquor distribution business while his competition have fallen on hard times or become victims of untimely "accidents". Grief's distrust of the man is evident and when Steven offers to take over Lavinia's business after she loses a large liquor shipment, Grief goes in pursuit of concrete evidence him.

Guest Starring: Jon [Manu] Bennett as Steven De Guerre, Mark Hembrow as Clyde, Natalie McCurry Joanna Cavanagh, Gus Mercurio as Peter Daniels, Mark Gerber as Frank Cavanagh

Also Appearing: Roger Nolan, Josef Schwaiger

The Eye of Tangaroa

Episode 17
May 26, 1998
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Brendan Maher

A centuries-old legend involving horse demons and a sacred stone makes Mauriti believe in the power of his own dreams, the climax of which is the death of his best friend and partner, Grief. When pieces of the legend seems to be coming true, Grief, Mauriti, and Isabelle must travel to Tangaroa — the birthplace of the legend — with their friend, Dr. Henry Spenser, a brilliant surgeon who is willing to sacrifice everything to obtain the magic stone for its purported healing powers.

Guest Starring: Peter Carroll as Henry Spenser, Steve Bastoni, Anthony Martin, Cramer Cain, Zac Wallace, Anthony Whitfield, Talei HIlder

Also Appearing: Eric Long, Brad Madam, Faye Chapman, Joye Lole, Dennis McGee, Josh O'Connor

Rock of Ages

Episode 18
June 02, 1998
Written by Yuki Asano
Directed by Karl Zwicky

During a boat trip celebrating Reverend Trent's birthday, the Rattler runs aground, stranding Grief, Mauriri, Trent, Lavinia, and Clare on an uninhabited island. After Mauriri is critically injured it falls to Grief to try and find a way to rescue everyone, testing his own strengths and weaknesses.

Guest Starring: Jeremy Ball

Also Appearing: Dallas Russell Walker, Jim Kelly, Tahnee Khalu, Alvin Oehlert

Grief and the Lepers

Episode 19
June 09, 1998
Story by Peter McCabe
Teleplay by Hannah Louise Shearer
Directed by Karl Zwicky

Grief and Mauriri discover an uncharted island rich with pearls only to have the French government claim it for a new leper colony being created by Reverend Trent's church. Meanwhile, Jenny Duval, the beautiful grieving widow of Grief's sworn enemy Kurt Gunter [ep 1], will let nothing stand in the way of her quest to create the largest pirate operation in the South Seas.

Guest Starring: Sandra Speichert as Jenny Duval, Henk Johannes as Tashman, Tiriel Mora, Andy Anderson as Forbes, James Gleeson

Also Appearing: Ken Graham, Dallas Russell Walker, Walter Lui, Geoff McLean, Puven Pather

The Compass and the Killer

Episode 20
June 16, 1998
Written by Jennifer Cecil
Directed by Brendan Maher

Jenny Duval strikes again — she seems to be able to murder without conscience to get her way. When she pirates a ship carrying Reverend Trent back to Matavai, the passengers are set loose in a lifeboat without oars to die; one passenger, Wheeler, is stolen away by Jenny who is eager to get her hands on his new invention, a priceless new gyrocompass.

Guest Starring: Sandra Speichert as Jenny Duval, Steven Grives as Victor, Henk Johannes as Tashman, Mark Fairall as Ryan Wheeler, Shane Briant as Spitzer, Martin Vaughan as Harry

Also Appearing: Brad Carrigan, Sarah Neivandt, Gary Orman

The Tender Trap

Episode 21
June 23, 1998
Written by Mike Sussman
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Grief and Jenny overcome their initial distrust of each other as they realize what's happening to them — they're falling in love. However, Mauriri begins to suspect Jenny of murdering her husband. Grief is too much in love to consider the possibility uses the business accounts to settle Jenny's debts.

Guest Starring: Sandra Speichert as Jenny Duval, Robert Mammone as Richard Banning, Shane Briant as Spitzer, Gerry Day as Teuri, Zac Wallace

Also Appearing: Brad Connors, Tame Eeria as Tame

The End of Jenny

Episode 22
June 30, 1998
Written by Jennifer Cecil
Directed by Brendan Maher

Grief has been on alert for any news of Jenny and her whereabouts. When a sighting of her comes over the wires, he drops all other business to find her, much to Mauriti's deep concern. Mauriti fears, his friend has lost all perspectives over a woman who is a confessed murderer.

Guest Starring: Sandra Speichert as Jenny Duval, Robert Mammone as Richard Banning, Patrick Dickson as Owens, Glen Shea, Jared Robinsen

Also Appearing: Jeremy Ball, Tahnee Khalu, Alvin Oehlert