Bed of Roses (TV series)
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| Bed of Roses | |
|---|---|
 Intertitle for Bed of Roses |
|
| Genre | 2008 Drama, Comedy |
| Created by | Jutta Goetze Elizabeth Coleman |
| Developed by | ABC Drama Department |
| Starring | Kerry Armstrong Julia Blake Hanna Mangan-Lawrence |
| Theme music composer | Ross Wilson Eris O'Brien John Pullicino |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Miranda Dear Amanda Higgs |
| Producer(s) | Mark Ruse Stephen Luby |
| Location(s) | South Gippsland, Australia |
| Running time | 50 min |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC1 |
| Picture format | 720p |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original airing | 10 May 2008 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | SeaChange |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Bed of Roses is an Australian comedy / drama television series which first screened on the ABC from 10 May 2008. It stars Kerry Armstrong (SeaChange and Lantana) and was created by Jutta Goetze and Elizabeth Coleman; produced by Mark Ruse (Kath & Kim, The Games) and Stephen Luby (Crackerjack); and directed by Paul Moloney (first three episodes) and Mandy Smith (next three episodes).[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Bed of Roses is about Louisa Atherton (Kerry Armstrong) handling her life after she discovers her husband has died in the arms of another woman, leaving her broke. She returns to her home town of Rainbow's End to live with her feisty mother, Minna (Julia Blake). Rainbow's End is in a 'growth corridor' with neighbouring town of Indigo. Besides problems with Minna, Louisa encounters trouble with her teenage daughter Holly (Hanna Mangan-Lawrence) and local residents.[1] Louisa has few financial assets except "Mary Kelly's Shack" she inherited from her father. Louisa decides to demolish the shack and build a new house to sell. Holly has taken the death of her father very hard and insists on carrying around his ashes. Louisa's irresponsible driving results in numerous traffic offences, which she can ill afford.
[edit] Production
The series contains six 50-minute episodes, with the $5 million production being shot over nine weeks, mostly in the South Gippsland towns of Foster and Meeniyan, it has taken six years from its initial conception to final screening. It has distinct overtones of Armstrong's previous ABC-TV series SeaChange.[2]
Goetze and Coleman first worked together in 1991, they were given the base direction for the series in 2002:
The ABC wanted a story about a woman on the bones of her arse.[2]
—Jutta Goetze, 2008
"Living on the bones of your arse" is an Australian slang term for living with little money, being broke and struggling.[3]
Original music is supplied by Niko Schauble, he also arranged the theme tune "Bed of Nails" which is sung by Megan Washington. The song was written by Daddy Cool founder and It Takes Two judge Ross Wilson and his friends Eris O'Brien and John Pullicino for his solo single in 1989.[4][5] Episode 5, "The Truth Will Set You Free" includes the song "Emotional Champ" by Sally Seltmann (New Buffalo).
[edit] Episodes
| # | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Not Worth A Cent" | 10 May 2008[7] |
| Louisa's husband Jack Atherton suffers a heart attack and dies, leaving massive debts and a mobile phone containing photos of him hugging another woman. Holly is unable to part with her father's ashes. Louisa returns to Minna's home in Rainbow's End with Holly, hoping to sell "Mary Kelly's Shack". Minna is against the sale as the shack was owned by Louisa's father, after some indecision Louisa resolves to live in the shack. Holly meets local man Sean Smithwick.[6] | ||
| 2 | "Reality Check" | 17 May 2008[7] |
| Louisa gets work: cleaning Gavin Braithwaite's house but is fired, The Rainbow Echo newspaper photographer and Golf Club cleaner. Holly finds a waitress job at the Rainbow Inn restaurant, meets Rainbow Roos footballers including 'Rooster' McIver who makes an advance on her, Holly runs away back to Melbourne. "Mary Kelly's Shack" is due to be demolished by local builder Marty Mason but Louisa's mother arrives with a council order having the site heritage listed.[8] | ||
| 3 | "Things Can Only Get Better" | 24 May 2008[7] |
| Marty begins to renovate the shack, but delays occur and expenses mount. Shannon is in financial and professional trouble so he turns to Louisa. Louisa builds her friendship with Marg and Deb, while Holly becomes friends with Rita Lim and Sean. Minna objects to Wayne Lim (business owner) and Gavin's shopping centre expansion. Rainbow Roos finally win a game using Shannon's advice and Sean's effort. Louisa meets Tibor her neighbour who collects his pony.[9] | ||
| 4 | "A Friend In Need" | 31 May 2008[7] |
| Marty's work is shonky but Louisa refuses to fire him despite Holly's urgings. Minna loses her licence due to failing eyesight. Louisa learns "Mary Kelly" was Meilin Chee living in 1858 and Hector Kelly's widow. Louisa becomes friends with Tibor, while Holly is able to release her father's ashes. Marg and Gavin conflict over their divorce. Deb brings an orphaned wombat to work and is fired. When the roof is blown off Louisa sacks Marty and her friends rally to restore it.[10] | ||
| 5 | "The Truth Will Set You Free" | 07 June 2008[7] |
| Louisa is exhausted from working two jobs and at the shack, Holly's crush on Sean deepens and they kiss. Louisa offends her friend Nick, a rain storm destroys her plaster sheets and she considers selling the shack unfinished. After Holly sees the mobile phone images of Anna, Louisa travels to Melbourne to meet Jack's lover and resolves some issues. Rainbow's End residents help renovate the shack, Louisa sees Meilin's ghost and decides to repatriate the bones to China.[11] | ||
| 6 | "Over The Rainbow" | 14 June 2008[7] |
| Now about a year after Jack's death, Louisa is ready to move on, she's going to auction the shack and get a job in Melbourne. Minna has a fall and is hospitalised, Holly doesn't want to go back as she has close ties locally. At a Sorry Ceremony, Meilin Chee's bones are exhumed and handed over to Chinese authorities.[12] | ||
[edit] Cast
[edit] Main cast
- Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, recently widowed, returns to Rainbow's End.
- Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Louisa's mother, member of the Heritage Society.
- Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, estranged wife of Gavin Braithwaite.
- Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Louisa's daughter, Indigo High year 11 student, works at Lim's.
- Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Louisa's old friend who runs Nick's Tyre Service.
- Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, hardware store owner, local councillor.
- Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, new friend, worked on The Rainbow Echo, looks after injured wildlife.
- Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, local footballer, undertakers' son, he has a crush on Holly.
- Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, gym owner, old friend.
[edit] Additional cast
- Dave Thornton as Shannon Atherton, Louisa's 24 year old son, plays Aussie Rules football professionally.
- Cameron McKenzie as 'Young Cop' (Gregg Russell), books Louisa for traffic offences, returns run-away Holly.
- Kallista Kaval as Wendy Watt,The Rainbow Echo editor, Louisa's boss.
- HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Rainbow Inn restaurant & Happy Nuggett mini-market manager, Gavin's girlfriend.
- Richard Davies as 'Rooster' McIver, football team captain, makes an advance on Holly, Marty's 'chippie'.
- Greg Stone as Jack (Thomas) Atherton (1956-2008), Louisa's husband, dies of a heart attack.
- Jaqueline Brennan as Anna (Mayhew), Jack's girlfriend.
- Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Rita's mother, Rainbow Inn restaurant & Happy Nuggett mini-market co-owner, disapproves of Gavin.
- Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Rita's father, business co-owner, friendly with Gavin, proposes expanding shopping centre.
- Frank Magree as Marty Mason, a builder, Rainbow Roos' coach.
- Brandon Burns as Macca, footballer, Marty's labourer, turns 21.
- Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Minna's friend, member of the Heritage Society.
- Geoff Morrell as Tibor Havel, a psychiatrist, Louisa's widowed neighbour.
- Leverne McDonnell as Robyn (Blake), Louisa's friend in Melbourne, offers her a job.
- Ronald Boyter as Clem Blackwell, Rainbow's End resident.
- Tim Sullivan as Ern Swann, real estate agent.
- Nicole Gulasekharam as Tahlia, Holly's school friend.
- Graham Thwaites as Jase, Marty's roofing sub-contractor and nephew.
- Julie Wynn as Meilin (Chee), ghost seen by Louisa, previous owner of the shack.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bed of Roses. Australian television information archive. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ a b Enker, Debi. "Coming up roses", The Age, 2008-05-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ ISP Strine Dictionary (PDF). University of Ballarat. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
- ^ ABC-TV Bed of Roses. Ross Wilson (2008-04-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ APRA. Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ "Not worth a cent". ABC-TV (2008-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ a b c d e f Bed of Roses - episode guide. Australian television information archive. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ "Reality Check". ABC-TV (2008-05-17). Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
- ^ "Things Can Only Get Better". ABC-TV (2008-05-24). Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
- ^ "A Friend In Need". ABC-TV (2008-05-31). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ "The Truth Will Set You Free". ABC-TV (2008-05-31). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Over The Rainbow". ABC-TV (2008-05-31). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
