EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS

SERIES 1|2

* Number in parentheses at end of program description is BBCWA library tape number.

SERIES 1

1. THE BLACK HOLE
Under-achieving, under-confident scientist Paul Hamilton is swept suddenly from his unexciting life and boring girlfriend in London to a thrilling astronomical frontier at the Royal Australian Observatory in the Australian Outback.  Can he find the Black Hole and impress his fellow scientists?  Can he win the affection of beautiful scientist Rachel, even thought she is engaged to astronaut Chad?  A world of impossible adventure opens up before him. (1)

2. GOD ARE YOU OUT THERE?
The age old clash between religion and science. Paul thinks he sees God in the gullet of a wormhole and becomes determined to publish his beliefs. But as Rachel, the cool cynical and terminally atheist, reminds him, there is no place in science for religion and God did not create the world. But then Pip and Rachel also see the face in the wormhole, and reluctantly agree that Paul may be right and should publish his paper. (2)

3. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR
Paul is overwhelmed by the support and love of his colleagues when they throw a surprise birthday party for him, and for the first time ever feels like a real man.  And then he gets a call from girl friend Ruth with her exciting surprise - she is in Australia and on her way to the Observatory. How can he get rid of her and live his own life? (3)

4. VENUS RISING
When Venus, the planet of love, rises, hormones and temperatures in the Observatory rise with it, and Paul’s lack of sex life becomes a real focus. He realises the best way to shut up his well meaning colleagues is to pretend he is having a raging affair with a bikie chick he met at the pub.  A simple lie that can’t hurt anyone.  To Paul’s surprise it seems to bring him unexpected bonuses.  Pip gives him more responsibility at the Observatory, and Rachel seems genuinely attracted to him for the first time ever.  So the lie gets bigger and bigger. (4)

5. UNITY
Paul discovers a new planet which he names Unity as a symbol of the togetherness he feels exists with his weird and gifted fellow scientists.   A film crew led by the sleazy Alistair Foster arrives to interview Paul and capture the discovery of the new planet, but Paul learns science is no different from real life, and beauty sells as Rachel is seduced into the spotlight. (5)

6. WHERE ARE THE MEN
Paul solves the mystery of how the Universe will end, and is depressed.   And then he is challenged to a duel by the local thug.   It is Paul’s high noon.  Paul looks for answers in the desert, and it is Bill who teaches him what it means to be a real man. (6)

SERIES 2

1. Wild Oats It is Camel Racing Week in Unagatta. To everyone's amazement, Paul shows great form in the saddle and becomes the hope of the town. But his triumph on the track coincides with a mid-life meltdown for Pip. Paul must choose between sporting glory or bringing back the woman they all love. (7)

2. How's Your Father A beautiful young woman turns up at the Observatory and, like a wild beast, seduces Paul. He cannot believe his luck – but soon discovers this girl has a few dark secrets. (8)

3. Big Red Paul is suspended from duty and reluctantly available for Max's mission to track down a murderous rogue kangaroo. When night falls the hunters become the hunted and Paul learns a harsh law of the bush: out here it's kill or be killed. (9)

4. Perseverance When Pip throws her back out working her way through the Aboriginal Karma Sutra, Paul is left in charge of the Observatory. His bravado turns to horror when he discovers he must help destroy his childhood hero, an old British satellite called The Perseverance. (10)

5. Something Wicked This Way Comes Paul excavates an Aboriginal codpiece in the desert and brings down an ancient curse upon the Observatory. Several brushes with death later, Paul is convinced that he must travel with Bill to the Darklands and face the Aboriginal Elders to exorcise his demons. (11)

6. May The Best Man Win When Chad becomes trapped outside his shuttle in space, Rachel grants her man a dying wish: a wedding via satellite before the oxygen runs out. Paul swings between guilt and euphoria as he weighs up the power to save Chad against a chance with the woman he loves.(12)