This is a superb series. It contains some wonderful acting, writing and directing, which make for brilliant viewing. The excellent cast, lead by Philip Quast at his devastating best, keeps your attention for the whole series.
The series intertwines the surreal with satire. It is set around two men who are thrown together under unusual circumstances, the first a lowly but ambitious clerk called Harvey McHugh who is struggling to survive in the insecure public service of Australia. He is naive, sincere, optimistic and also a virgin. His only aim is to gain a permanent job in the service.
The second is 'The Minister', Michael Muldoon, played by Philip Quast whose aim is much higher: he wants to be first president of Australia and also to be cured. The Minister is merciless, pragmatic,resolute and ruthlessly charming. The Australian people worship him, and Harvey trusts him. He epitomizes the best and worst of today's politicians, although Philip Quast does add a vulnerable and humane side to the character.
The Cast:
Philip Quast (The Minister), Ronald Faulk (Dr. Voysner), Richard Piper (Gordon Robertson), Aaron Blabey (Harvey McHugh), Monica Maughan (Monica McHugh), Roger Oakley (Bernard), Daniel Rigney (Frank), Jane Borghesi (Georgina), Bruce Myles (Father Healy), Emma Strand (Diane) and Michael Burkett (Morris).
Synopsis:
Spay Misty for Me
Directed by Geoffrey Nottage
Harvey McHugh works as a lowly clerk in the Government's Trust Department. The building is in very bad shape and the elevator often shuts down. When Mrs. Dewhurst, a pensioner, tells him of a 17 cent shortage in her fortnightly benefits, Harvey decides to demonstrate his efficiency by finding the money hoping this will help him get a permanent position. Instead he discovers that all pensioners and employees are deliberately being short-changed by the Government's new computer G.O.D. (the Gatherer of Data). Harvey soon finds himself moved out of the Trust Department because of his inquiries and moved to Fisheries.
Harvey, unsatisfied at being moved out, accesses G.O.D. and is caught by the Minister. Harvey tells him everything about the 17 cents, not knowing it is The Minister who is responsible for the deduction. Muldoon will let nothing stand in his way of docking money from patients' pensions and government funds as he requires the money to finance Dr. Voysner's research into finding a cure for Engelbaum's Syndrome, which The Minister is suffering from.
Harvey's boss, the Minister, decides to remove Harvey. He has had the elevator rigged so that it will crash upon its next trip and he has arranged that Harvey should be on it. But things go terribly wrong when the public service choir, the young Matildans, join Harvey in the lift. Harvey survives and a good job for The Minister as Harvey is his only chance of a cure for his illness. The Minister has Harvey moved to another job.
My Brilliant Chorea
Directed by Amanda Smith
The Minister, states that he's the one who does the trade is infuriated with the Prime Minister who has made very good trade deal with Japan behind his back. He decides to use Harvey to destroy the deal and get back at the PM. The Minister has Harvey is transferred to the Film Office and influences the woman in charge Kathryn that Harvey be allowed to classify films even though it's against the rules.
Harvey has developed sexual anxiety and other side effects from watching X-rated movies.
The Minister tells Kathryn he wants Harvey to censor a documentary called, "Devouring Passions" a film about Japanese cuisine. This is the means by which he is going to get revenge on the Prime Minister. He threatens that she'll lose her job if Harvey does not classify the film.
Whatever Happened to Baby X
Directed by Robert Klenner
The Minister is angry with Judge Brown because he turned the whole Board of Directors against him, which kept him from becoming president of the Australia Club. He also feels threatened by him because he wants to investigate the lift accident.
The Minister is also upset about the fact Australian industries are booming at a record high when he has been trying to clean up the city to stage the first United Nations World Pollution Conference in Australia. This could ruin the Minister internationally and locally if the conference is not a total success. He insists it would take a national strike to halt this boom.
Harvey has fallen in love with Mary, a judge's associate. Mary is smart, funny and beautiful, but is not all she seems.
Whilst Harvey who has been to work in the family court is looking after a frozen embryo, which is the centre of a custody dispute the power to the building gets cut off. Harvey takes the embryo home, which is a breach of demarcation even though Mary advises him against it.
The Minister again plans to use Harvey and the situation, to get the pollution levels down and make him look good over the PM in the press.
A Tree Grows in Botswana
Directed by Amanda Smith
The Minister faces political ruin when journalists discover that he has been keeping dossiers on the private lives of rival politicians. He tries to rally support from Gordon, his friend, associate and party secretary. Gordon is angry with him but says the Party needs Muldoon so he will do his best.
Harvey meets up with Brandon an old childhood friend at the public service office. Brandon lies to Harvey and tells him that he's on work release to fix computers. He says he has been assigned to iron out the glitch in the 17 cents affair.
The Minister is getting more and more stressed out concerning the State Security files issue, so much so Harvey, when reporting to clean the restrooms, finds the Minister vomiting. The Minister tells Brandon he must not fail. Brandon devises an explosive solution to solve The Minister's problem.
Paint Your Bandwagon
Directed by Michael Carson
After Harvey helps a man in the toilets of the public service office rumours spread that he is gay. On advice Harvey uses his "minority status" to apply for a job at a government sports institute. The Minister is also involved at the sports institute as he is hoping Australia will win the bid for the right to stage the Little Olympic Games in the year 2000. Not only that but the PM has promised him the portfolio.
The Minister hears the rumour Harvey is gay and checks with Dr. Voysner if he could be affected.
Harvey's mother is worried about the way he is acting and his appearance.
At the institute Harvey becomes friends with Simon who is also a friend of The Minister. Simon teaches Harvey to do flips and somersaults, and offers to help him work out. Simon warns The Minister that the PM was unlikely to give up the Jr. Sports Portfolio.
This turns out to be true which enrages The Minister. When The Minister discovers some information on research that poses a danger to the children at the institute, which could be very damaging to the PM, he decides to use Harvey to blow the whistle.
Little House on the Gold Coast
Directed by Amanda Smith
Dr. Voysner tells The Minister they have a problem with Harvey. It seems he has an iron deficiency and they need a way to give him supplements without him knowing. The Minister tells the Doctor he knows just the department. So Harvey gets a job with the Police Department's Art Union and starts licking envelopes.
Harvey's mother wins the Art Union prize, a dream home on the Gold Coast, but the draw is rigged, she is expected to give back the prize, but she wont. Harvey tells Dr. Voysner about the prize. Harvey's mother is arrested and jailed.
Harvey is distraught. He and Bernard have tried everything to get Monica out. Harvey has even written to The Minister, not knowing he is the person behind it all. Dr. Voysner warns the Minister that if he doesn't move Harvey out of his job and release his mother it could cause a serious medical problem.
Episode Synopsis and Photos, Page Two