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1 Convict Town
The introduction explains about the forced deportation of convicts from London.

After one of his workers is beaten up, Chris Cobb is warned to "take his stage road somewhere else," by the men who inhabit a town of ex-convicts. However one, Dan, the son of Big Tom, is more conciliatory. "He doesn't like the sight of blood," sneer his more unpleasant partners. Big Tom takes the whip to his offspring, disowning him. So leaving behind his girl Sally, Dan approaches "decent fellow" Chris for a job. Nice Mr Cobb offers him work in Bathurst, but his fellow workers recognise him and beat him up. Then his old buddies beat him up too, as he's transporting materials for Cobb, and Dan is forced to return to the convict town.
When Chris hears the talk that Dan has done a bunk, he finds it hard to accept. "Dan's only a kid." So, alone, Chris ("are you out of your head?") rides into the convict town. Armed only with a brooch that Dan had set his eyes on for Sally, he faces up to Big Tom. Chris challenges him to a fight. As he calls Tom a miserable coward, the fight is on, and Chris almost wins, until another convict strikes him down. It's clear Chris is going to be murdered. But Dan jumps in to save him, and rather suddenly Big Tom, appreciating his son's bravery, comes round. In return Cobb offers all the men there jobs to help build the stage line. Hurrah they all cheer.
There are some fine moments in this first story that introduces the character of Cobb's helper Dan. It's one of the few surviving stories produced by the ill fated Maurice Geraghty.

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Rider on the Hill
Introduction- "the uncivilised wilderness peopled by outlaws."

Whoa! A chain dragged across the road causes the Cobb stage to crash, another bushranger attack.
Arrived finally in Bathurst, Chris receives a Debt Stick, an aborigine warning of his impending death. "I've seen it work," Dan warns the recipient. Or could it be from some white man, imitating the native custom for his own end?
That's what this story is all about, though when Chris and Dan set off next day with the stage, the usual motley of passengers are all rather suspicious. As is an aborigine, whom Chris kindly picks up en route.
An overnight stop by the camp fire. Chris speculates on who might be his enemy. Later, as he sleeps, someone shoots at him, but misses.
Back on the road, one passenger, a condemned convict escapes from his guard, but Chris rounds him up, only for him to make another attempt and this time he is shot dead.
So the weary journey reaches the next night's resting place. Dan and Chris are still eyeing their passengers, but not well enough to prevent another murderous attack "with bare hands." There's a conclusive fight, Chris' life only saved by one of his passengers. But the yawning drama isn't finished yet. "I can't stand any more killing." I couldn't stand any more full stop. "I'm very sorry," concludes Chris, but not half as sorry as myself. But at least he apologised like a gentleman, maybe for this rotten script. Why, Chris Cobb never seems at all perturbed by these threats to his life!

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The Legacy
Adam is mighty unfriendly towards Chris Cobb, not interested in the great man's proposal of leasing some of Adam's land. But then Adam doesn't own the land, "he's a little odd," he's only caretaker awaiting the arrival of absentee landlord Joe Acton. Acton inherited this large ranch after Ian, son of owner Neil mysteriously disappeared years back.
But when Acton finally arrives it seems she is actually Jo Anne Acton, and Chris Cobb quickly adjusts his manners. Her solicitor shows her round her inheritance, but she is a trifle disappointed with her inheritance. She had ditched her Alfred and her post as an upstairs maid for this! She decides she will sell up. Chris can buy it, and she starts making eyes at him.
But an aborigine boy, Malumba, tells Chris, "that's my place." 'Twould be "a bit sticky" if Ian who had been declared legally dead, were actually this lad! The key to the mystery might be Adam- he can and eventually does identify Malumba as the missing Ian. But Miss Jo is not so pleased to see her inheritance possibly slipping away from her. Chris however, ever upright, even though he has signed the papers to buy the ranch, helps Ian adjust to the life of a white man. Adam however, attempts to bump the lad off. It seems he was Neil's brother, Ian's uncle, but had been excluded from Neil's will and had shot his brother.
But it all ends happily as Chris has got out of any advances from Jo by getting Alfred to come and court his old flame.

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4 Barbed Wire
Introduction- "Sheep squatters lived in regal splendour, a law unto themselves."

Such a one is Dundee (Grant Taylor) who owns 40,000 sheep and claims as his, 400,000 acres. He don't take kindly to folks who put barbed wire around their own territory, such as Pearce, who is beaten up for this reason. His young son Bobby can only watch on.
Chris Cobb is transporting more barbed wire when he's stopped by Dundee's men who order him to turn round. The dispute ends in a gunfight, Dan wounded in the leg, but two of Dundee's men shot dead. Chris calls at the nearest homestead to get help for Dan. But it's Pearce's ranch and he's too injured to help. The only doc in the vicinity is in the pay of Dundee. But he does at least treat the two patients. The doc warns Chris that Dundee will be out for revenge.
It's soon here. Two of Dundee's henchmen, including Walt, who once had his life saved by Chris, come to order him to get out. It ends in a fight with whips, a variation on the usual, but the result is what you'd expect, Chris is the winner.
"There's been enough blood already," sighs Pearce as Chris prepares for another attack from Dundee's men. Chris is given one last chance to save his own skin, but on a matter of principle refuses to leave Pearce on his own. In fact Bobby settles things by riding off to try and shoot Dundee. In this of course, he fails, and anyway Chris stops him. Now Chris is face to face with Dundee. Pearce is alongside and spells out the dispute to Dundee, "it's my few acres against the thousands you have."
Dundee attempts to scare Chris off with aborigine magic. The bone is pointed at Chris. It should disable his trigger finger.
But Chris resists, and there is a tense stand off. Walt is ordered to shoot Chris, but cannot. Walt is shot for his disloyalty.
So Dundee prepares to shoot Chris himself. But the aborigine has discerned the good and the evil, and it is Dundee's shooting arm that is paralysed

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5 Episode at Bathurst
The introduction is a general one for the series about Australia and Chris Cobb's arrival there in 1840.

This is a prime example of a story with stock characters in a script that a child could have written.
Some mighty unpleasant gunslingers have ridden into town. "Don't step into the path of your betters, old man," one local is warned. At the Royal Mail Hotel, Matt Denvers picks a fight with one innocent sap who is shot dead. The Denvers boys have come here from the States to offer the citizens protection. Anyone not in favour? No sir.
The original bullies need a lesson, and who better than Chris Cobb? "They're not so tough," he claims, as he rides into town with no gun. In the saloon an argument is raging over cheatin' at cards. "The town smells so bad," Chris remarks to Matt, adding he's a phoney. Chris wins a punchup and makes an enemy.
In the dark the Denvers boys try and shoot him. Chris uses a boomerang to good effect to thwart them.
He wants to persuade the townsfolk to stand up to the bullies, yet they are far too scared. Then he tries to get Tim Perkins, son of the local agent of Cobb & Co, not to side with the gunslingers. Chris teaches him border fighting, "only for very brave men," and Tim learns a useful lesson, "I guess wearing a gun doesn't make me a man."
So Tim helps Chris by telling him where the Denvers hang out. In the saloon he says. Anyone could have guessed that much!
It is High Noon as Chris stands in the main street of town: "come out Denvers." No gun has Chris, but a whip. That whip removes Matt's two guns even as he draws. As Tim prevents the other brothers from intervening, Chris teaches the cowering Matt a lesson, to the accompanying laughter from the relieved locals. The Denvers boys are driven out of town. Laughter and cheers. Plus catcalls from this viewer.

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6 Twisted Road

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7 Dutchman's Reef -
The introduction is about the sometimes mysterious rites of the aborigine.
All dressed in their Sunday best, Chris and Dan present themselves at Milton House to be received by rich Mrs Culbert. Her son 'Teddy Bear' Norton has been reported dead, but she believes he is still alive as rumours have come from somewhere that he has been seen in the Simpson Desert.
This is a bleak landscape, though the legendary area known as Dutchman's Reef is reputed to be rich in gold, but its location is unknown. An aborigine steals Chris and Dan's water, and the pair need water quickly. The only place near is a waterhole, but to use such a place guarded by aborigines is very dangerous. However Chris notes that one set of footprints suggest that Teddy Bear may well be one of them.
Cautiously the two men approach the water, Dan speaking in pidgin English. Norton, if he be Norton, makes no response.
As they start to drink a spear is aimed at them. From the language, it is Norton, who chases after Chris with his spears. "Teddy Bear," shouts Chris to remind him of their past association. As Chris had helped Norton in the old days, they do get to drink. As they do so, Teddy Bear tells how he was befriended by the aborigines. "Your mother'd never recognise you now," admits Chris. Dan meanwhile has spotted some gold, but it is agreed that money makes noone happy, as witness Mrs Culbert, so the secret remains hidden from the white man.
Chris lets the rich lady know Norton is dead. I suppose he was in one sense. "Any trace of Dutchman's Reef?" she adds. Ah, so it was the gold that she had really been after

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The Actress
Another relic from producer M Geraghty.
Introduction: Short written tribute to a fine line of Aussie actors, including "the late Errol Flynn."

Right on time, the stage arrives in town. Locals are restless as bushranger Mike Upton has been robbing their valuable cargoes being transported on Chris Cobb's line. Before riding off to round up Upton, Chris finds time to relax with his girl friend Clara watching a local amateur dramatics production of The Stockman's Daughter, very hammily performed.
Next day the company are travelling on the Cobb stage, Chris himself keeping watch in case Upton strikes. He does! He takes a fancy not just for the loot, but for "tuppeny" stage actress Jenny (Jennifer Jayne). "She's worth any risk," and he gallops off with her- "don't be too nice to me," Mike warns her. But he falls for her and her mind is rather filled with the romantic notion of his life of adventure too.
In his shack, they share their broken-down life stories until Cobb bursts in to rescue her. Cobb brings Upton in, en route the pair continue to chat and she tries to stop him putting her on a pedestal, before a lynch mob from the town want to string Upton up.
Jenny puts on a bravura performance to save his neck, by convincing the mob that he's not Upton but her rancher husband.
She's rather taken with her performacne and heads for the bright lights, while Upton is taken by Cobb to face justice. However the kindly Cobb offers him a job when he's served his time.

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9 Divide and Conquer - Bill Fry's gang captures Cobb and his government passenger, threatening to string em up unless they are granted free pardons
10 Remittance Man - Jimmy Quicksilver strikes again! Another Cobb carriage robbed. But this time our Jim's in for a shock- his aunt and uncle are on board, come to take him back home to England "to a good school and then to Oxford-"despite the fact that he looks at least 25! Almost good, almost a comedy, nearly a drama

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11 The Sarong
Introduction- about Bond Girls, not what you might guess, but indentured servants to the rich Australian colonizers.

Oscar gives Cobb the bad news, twelve of these girls have disappeared on the Brisbane run. Ed and Sam have been on this route, so Chris asks Dan to take Sam's place, while he poses as a rough prospector, and has a nice time in the carriage smiling with the latest batch of servant girls. They are looking forward to their lucrative new jobs. But their chaperon Hennessy is less friendly and at an unscheduled watering stop, a wagon draws up to collect the girls and Chris is shot dead. Though as it's by Dan, it's only a ruse.
Chris follows the trail of the girls to the seashore, where fierce dogs chase him away. He watches a lot of women in a small boat; they are panning for pearls in the shallow waters. At night, he is able to get to the house where a lot of the girls are imprisoned, but he is captured.
Lucien is the smarmy rich owner of the place, more a harem. But it is run by brute force. "We must have a long discussion on morality," sneers Lucien. "All the philosophy in the world cannot excuse brutality," retorts Chris, who is disgusted by the opulence and evil of the man. So it's Chris' turn for violence. He is knocked out and dumped into shark infested waters. But Lucien's henchmen don't quite succeed in this, instead it is they who are tipped into the sea and deservedly end up as shark food.
Such heroism stirs the workers to rebellion. "We have lost fear" (as well as some of their guards). In a body they drag the repulsive Lucien to throw him to his own dogs. Although it's a fate he has merited, Chris persuades them to hand him over to stand trial.
They remain at the mansion, to run this business on 'equal shares.'

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Solid Gold Brigade
Directed by Maury Geraghty, the introduction tells of The Banker on Horseback, who collected the gold during the 1851 Rush to deposit in Sydney.

Strickland and Logan shoot banker Fenton Dodworth, who had been on his way to Fury Creek. Also going there is Chris Cobb to transport the miners'gold, and they shoot him also.
Then the two villains impersonate the banker and Cobb, and on his stagecoach ride in to Fury Creek. It's all too easy for them to give receipts for the gold, they are to transport.
However by some miracle, Chris has been rescued by a Scotsman Adam Douglas, and with his help and the loan of a horse, Chris rides in to Fury Creek to prevent the thieves from leaving. But they allege Chris is the impersonator, a bushranger, and an angry mob surround the stranger. The stage with all the gold departs, as Chris is strung up, with a noose round his neck. He is asked for his dying request, but luckily someone vouches that he really is Chris Cobb and Chris (for some reason on his own) chases after Strickland and Logan.
They are resting their horses by the sea shore, where they shoot dead the miners' guard who are accompanying them. But Strickland then shoots his partner, and now the odds are one on one when Chris rides up.
"By George, you're a hard man to kill," utters the surprised crook. In a gunfight, it's Chris who is the victor and he can now take "all that gold" safely to the bank.

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13 Stage for Two - "Don't forget to say your prayers," Cobb's bank robber passenger is advised. His mates want their share of the loot! The climax is a deadly, yawn, gunfight

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The Bone that Whispered
A 'Wells Fargo' story, only for Red Indians substitute Aborigines. The natives are restless thanks to the forked tongue of one white man. But at least there's a twist - Forked tongue is straight after all.

Aborigines with boomerangs hold up Dan's stage.
News is brought by Billy Joe to Chris Cobb that Dan has not arrived at MacIntyre's Station. As his route had been across lands of a tribe hostile to white men, they fear the worst.
Sweet little Mary Ann is the daughter of an outcast white man who has taught this tribe to be so antagonistic towards the white men. Her mother has died and she wants to meet the father she has never known. "I want you to find him," pleads Mary Ann to Chris. Her father is Edwin Regnor who had been convicted of murder, hence his bitterness, especially as it seems he could have been framed.
Chris starts his search at Barrow, where the locals are auctioning off the contents of a stagecoach that has been found. It's Dan's stage! No sign of Dan- that short cut acorss aborigine territory must have been fatal.
Following the route, Chris finds Regnor and demands his missing driver. "You better get out while you can," warns Regnor. The chief of the tribe is about to point the Magic Bone towards Chris, but Regnor prevents him. Regnor becomes a little more amenable as Chris shows him the picture of his late wife Jane and his little daughter. Mary Ann needs a father, Chris tells him.
But thinking that they have been betrayed by Regnor's friendly overtures towards Chris, the aborigines turn nasty. "We haven't much time." The Bone is pointed at Regnor, and now he's a marked man, a doomed man. "Doesn't sound very dangerous to me," scoffs Chris, but Regnor believes in the folklore as they debate the pros and cons of black magic. Edwin Regnor also recounts how he had becomes blood brothers with the tribe.
Only one way to remove the power of The Bone, in which Regnor believes so strongly. As his strength fails, they search for the only aborigine who has a power greater than The Bone. On the way, they find Dan, but all around them aborigines are gathering like vultures, waiting for Regnor to expire. But in time the chief removes the curse and Regnor is taken back to civilisation, and united with his daughter Mary Ann.

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16 Canoomba Incident - Chris comes to a town where there are no men, they are all away on a gold rush. Carrying some gold, Dan's coach is robbed, one of the thieves being a woman. Dan enjoys a wooden romance with Joan (Janette Craig) before the inevitable truth dawns, that she's the bushranger

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Rushing Sands
The introduction tells of the Aussie antipathy towards police.

Driver Petey, one of the best, is resigning, because, he tells a surprised Chris Cobb, he is ill. But the real reason is that he has got "to kill a man," one Chad who some years back had robbed him and killed his son. Chris learns this from the police deputy Colby, who is also the local bank manager. The regular policeman in Duranga, Sgt Bennett is away on honeymoon.
Into town rides a stranger. Chad? Petey has to be restrained from launching an attack on the man, Colby is knocked out attempting to restrain him, but Chris does stop any killing. He puts Petey behind bars for his own safety, along with Colby, as he seems untrustworthy.
Then Chris learns the awful truth when he meets Chad. Chris is supposed to be an intermediary to reconcile father and son, for Chad is actually Petey's estranged son. But Colby has spare keys to his cell, and he gets out, as does Petey, and Petey interrupts Chad's talk with Chris to shoot his enemy. Chris prevents the tragedy, but apparently Chris has been duped all along, Chad real aim is to rob a shipment of currency due at the bank.
That brings on a shootout and some trickery from the slippery Colby, before Chad is gunned down by Petey saving Chris Cobb's life. Petey will never know Chad was his own son, because his eyesight has deteriorated.

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Fire Rock
The introduction contains geological data about Australia's bubbling hot springs.

A white man enters a sacred cave, full of primitive paintings on the walls. He never comes out alive.
He turns out to be David Clauson, one of Cobb's finest agents, so Chris Cobb rides in to Kuwala to help his wife Ella. On her hand is her wedding present, an opal ring. Apparently David and his brother Walter had been in search of treasure in The Turumba, but the legend almost holds true, "no white man that's been there has ever got back alive." So you can't blame Walter for not wanting to go there in quest of David. But he does, along with Ella, Chris and Dan reluctantly agreeing to their joining in the search. An aborigine tracker leads the way, at a shilling a day.
There are some impressive sights and sounds of The Burning Land, it's "like looking at The Pit of Hell." "We stay here, we die," warns our tracker. That night they camp by trees, Dan rightly perceiving that Ella is "trouble." But Chris must guess, for there she is, making eyes at him!
After some scouting alone, Chris finds David's body. End of quest. But Walter meanwhile has entered the cave and greedily snatched a giant opal. That will anger the aborigines, though for the moment Walter has got out successfully despite the legend. But he soon falls ill, is it superstition? Or as Chris suspects, poisoning?
"Spirit people punish," explains the tracker, in support of the former theory. But Chris is searching for berries, antidote to the suspected poison. While he's gone, Ella exposes her true motives, she poisoned Walter so she can get rich. She only married her husband for similar reasons. She gallops off with her prize, but meets a poetic end as she drops her opal, and trying to recover it in quicksand, is gobbled up herself, "a horrible way to die."
"Spirit people punish," repeats our tracker.

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The Hunters
Introduction- Australia is the oldest continent. The aborigines "even today" have "strange superstitions, tribal customs."

The ceremonial killing of whiteman's cattle is one such custom. One rancher, Dillon, is injured when he tries to prevent one of his herd being taken for such a purpose.
His wife Mary is awaiting his return to celebrate their anniversary. Instead, in rides Chris Cobb, on a surveying mission for a possible stage line. She invites him to stay, and after a philosophical chat, they turn in, Dillon still not back home.
His horse rides in during the night, and next morning Chris institutes a search, with help from ranch hand Billy Jo. Mary tags along too.
Whoa! There's a sign of a struggle. "Your husband interrupted a ritual killing- he has to be killed too," Chris explains rather coldly to Mary.
In fact we have watched Dillon struggling round the "strange naked" country, an arrow in his back. After hours he succeeds in pulling it out, but kite hawks circle overhead, ready for the kill.
Billy Jo is helpful: "he go that way." As night falls, Dillon hides in the swamp, and Chris has to make camp also. Mary is a sorry case, it seems she was contemplating leaving her husband, and she fears he is already dead.
Miraculously, that arrow wound can't have been so deep as he has that morn hidden in a cave. A relentless aborigine has trailed him, cornered him as the chase, never exciting, never matching the over dramatic background music, reaches its climax.
Inside the sacred cave, which is at least visually impressive, "dark as the tomb," there is a fight to the finish.
Chris arrives too late, but Dillon is still alive, and he is treated, his wife cradling Dillon in her arms.

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20 Stage Freight - On board today's stage are a pair of murderers, as well as a government inspector. Plus a suspicious looking coffin. An even more horrendous journey than usual! However the story does manage to convey something of the extreme wearisomeness of travel in those days. And of Whiplash

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21 Portrait in Gunpowder -
Perhaps the best of the series.
The opening sequence explains about Aussie bushrangers, highwaymen.

In Bathurst "one of the world's most distinguished painters" Denise du Mornay (Therese Talbert) hires Cobb's coach. She's not quite The Old Bat Chris is expecting, and Chris finds her rather disarming. Her destination is secret and she only reveals it when there's a lunch stop. Macdonald Scott is her wealthy patron, though Chris can't help puzzling why there's so much mystery surrounding this trip.
En route Denise sketches the scenery, and Coach and Five at a Spanking Pace isn't all she gives Chris. Romance is in the air as she agrees to paint him a picture for the princely sum of 500 guineas. The deal is sealed with a kiss.
After petting a koala, the journey is resumed to Scott's magnificent but isolated mansion. It's a treasure trove of Rubens, Reynolds and other old masters, though Chris quickly discerns the owner is Jimmy Quicksilver (Stuart Wagstaff), a gentleman bushranger. Denise has been commissioned to paint for his portrait!
Chris is all for a quick departure, but she is charmed by Jimmy. And anyway, at the point of a gun, Jimmy insists Chris stays. "You can't help liking him," comments Dan, and one is inclined to agree. Even though they are all loosely prisoners, they are well treated.
An interruption to the jollity as guns are fired. Rival bushrangers attack the mansion and Jimmy has to surrender. But it turns out it's all a joke by Jimmy's men- "very funny," says Chris. However Chris has persuaded Jimmy to renounce his life of crime, and return the fortune he has stolen, in return for a pardon. Though Jimmy's men are handsomely paid off, they can't accept Jimmy's reform and it takes Diane as well as Chris, Dan and Jimmy to teach them that honesty is the best policy.
Chris returns to base with Denise, whilst Jimmy, his debt paid, disappears into the night.
And Denise promises Chris she will come back some day....

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22 Ribbons and Wheels - Western Coach Lines- "faster, cheaper, cleaner" runs their slogan, giving Cobb and Co "good healthy competition." A race will decide who wins the line. Dirty tricks are inevitable- "when honesty fails, never hesitate."

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The Wreckers
The Cobb & Co's offices at Wallabelle are robbed, and with the cash, the thief Norris (Guy Doleman) offers to buy a share in Cobb's business. When Chris declines, Norris' gang wreck Chris' new coach and steal another. This they use to rob a shipment of gold. But Chris is on their trail! They hurt Chris, whose wounds are bound up by an aborigine. But Norris is now relieving a bank of their "gold dust," and he's actually posing as Christopher Cobb! Poor Gillespie the local manager is locked in his own safe.
Thus folks demand to see Cobb "swinging from a gum tree," after several more robberies using Cobb's stage as a getaway vehicle.
More danger for Chris when he encounters a tiger snake. Nearly as dangerous as Norris. Finally Norris' hideout is discovered, and a plot to rob the foundry is overheard.
Chris calls at the Brisbane Constabulary to enlist police help, but notices a poster offering a reward for himself, Wanted for Murder and Robbery. So a change of plan, he and Dan break into the foundry themselves, to steal some chain. This is strategically placed outside the foundry, thus when the stage draws up outside the foundry, Chris ties the chain to the coach, cutting off any means of escape.
"In the Queen's name- halt!" shout the police. Dan has called them in, though Norris nearly gets away, but Chris stops him with a hefty and well deserved punch. However when the police hear his name is Cobb, he is locked away too!

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24 Storm Rider
The Introduction explains about Australia's rivers which used to flood frequently.
A rider is robbed, then given shelter by a young damsel not in distress. He's Chris Cobb, she's Cassie (Annette Andre), and the house Cobb finds himself in, belongs to her guardian John. He's a writer. She dreams of being a fashion designer.. But the son of the house, Cloy, is a real boor. It becomes obvious that he was the one who robbed Cobb.
With so much recent rain, Cobb's only route back to Sydney is by canoe, an outrigger. Cassie has begged in vain to go with him. But she follows anyway, leaving behind an explanation stating she'd never met anyone like Chris before, the usual cliches. He's "a real man," declares this farewell note. When she catches up with Chris, he properly starts to take her back, but his boat has been sabotaged by the evil Cloy, thus she falls into the river, dangerous water snakes and all. Chris of course saves her.
After a lot of unexciting shots of paddling canoes, Cloy finds them and starts a-firing. Luckily dad has had wind of the feud between Cloy and Cobb and stops the shooting. But a fight is unavoidable. It rages whilst Cassie pleads with her guardian about Cobb being just the sort of hero John writes about in his novels. "I've failed them both," admits the discouraged John after Chris wins the battle. He gives his blessing on Cassie travelling with Chris to learn more about dressmaking.
Dad is left to give Cloy a little "understanding," as Chris paddles Cassie downstream into the distance.

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25 Flood Tide
Chris Cobb has only one female passenger, Miss Sarah Bartley (Shirley Broadway) on the journey to Kerrytown. But the river is flooding and with night falling the pair are forced to seek shelter. They find it in an isolated house on the hill. It's a well furnished place, but empty, and they settle down for the evening. She however has a sense of "something yet to come," and she's justified in her fears when she spots a face at the window. Chris braves the stormy weather but finds noone.
"I'm going to pray tonight," she says. Then a stranger knocks. He's Jess Beldon (Barry Linehan) and Chris soon sees that the couple had planned to meet here - quite how is never explained. Sarah says Jess, "who can be difficult," has escaped from prison, but he was inncoent of the murder for which he was convicted. "He didn't know what he was doing," for he's mentally unstable.
She recounts the very dull story as lightning flashes mechanically in the night sky. She asks Chris to help them escape the country, but he refuses. So Jess attempts to force Chris and there's a struggle in which Chris comes out on top. Then Jess admits it's Sarah who who has escaped from the asylum! As she disintegrates along with this story, she tries to leave, somehow shoots Jess and wounds him. But they are reconciled and returned to the madhouse along with us who have sat through this nonsense. Chris looks on sombrely in this truly dreadful story

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26 Dilemma in Wool - Nina is (unkown to Chris) smuggling a lamb to Spain- "you could get a 25 years sentence"- heady stuff!

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28 Dark Runs the Sea -
It's very hot as Chris Cobb's well-to-do passenger, Fiona Merrick (a barely recognisable Annette Andre) is kidnapped by the smooth talking Dartner (Guy Doleman).
Her uncle, local magistrate Lufton blames Cobb, muttering about criminal negligence, so, threatened with the cancellation of his local contracts, Chris sets out on a search for the gang who have taken Fiona.
An eccentric with a pet cockatoo on his head, Bradley Bradley, was eyewitness to the snatch. He identifies the leader of the gang as Dartner, wanted for murder. All the while with the parrot on his head, Bradley leads Chris and Dan to Dartner's hideout.
Cautiously they approach his hut. "Drop your guns, Cobb." Dartner locks Chris and Dan in a giant bird cage. Their breakfast is served by Fiona who calls Dartner "darling."
"A silly romantic schoolgirl adventure," is how Chris sees it. He tries to prove to her that the villainous Dartner is only after her ransom money, but she prefers to look on it as a kind of dowry. Her uncle brings the demanded cash, and Chris is right, Dartner now gives her the push. "Get her out of here." And it seems uncle is in on the deal.
Dartner's real evil character comes out as he gets angry with the poor cockatoo, and when his owner protests, Bradley is shot. That forces Fiona to see Chris had been right, and she releases the prisoners from their cage and Chris chases after the now fleeing Dartner. There is a desperate fight by a picturesque waterfall, and we all know who will fall, sodden, into the raging torrent.
A grateful Fiona makes eyes at Chris. But all he can wisely recommend is that she gets "the back of a hairbrush."
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29 Haunted Valley -
The Introduction refers to bushrangers who were "among the most dangerous outlaws the world has ever seen," hiding in remote places far from the law.
At Wallaby Junction, Chris is to meet old prospector Wallaby Dick. Chris interrupts a birthday celebration for Catha Cameron, a nice philanthropist, though her hosts Col Macready and his shifty son Robbie are less impressive. Chris asks Wallaby Dick's whereabouts, only to be told he's dead. He'd lived in a haunted house two miles out of town, and Chris meets Catha there, and tells her Dick had found a waterhole by an important secret pass which Chris must now search for, to enable him to set up a new freight line. In return, she explains her father had been murdered at this house, when she had been a child. She kisses a surprised Chris. A gunshot interrupts their romance.
Someone is stealing cattle, probably using this secret pass to make good his escape. It's in Chris' interests to find the pass, and in local landowners, Macready and Kilcain too, to stop the rustling, so Chris proposes to keep watch for the thief. It works a treat and the pass is revealed, to Chris' satisfaction. And the thief is caught, a "vicious child" whose father had killed Catha's father. Rough justice is meted out when the thief is shot.
There's a mini-dying speech from Catha, cut short by her death.

Thoroughly uninspired

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Love Story in Gold
The introduction is another preamble about convicts being sent down under.

Smithy retains Chris Cobb to deliver his goods in person. Apart from the usual items like brandy, he has ordered a trousseau and two coffins.
Chris has to be blindfolded so he cannot identify the exact location of Smithy's wealthy home, where he resides with a gang of ex-convicts ruled over by the aged Tamros. She tells Chris one of the coffins is for her. The other is for Chris, unless he agrees to be married. Chris looks rather bemused as she admires her own coffin, "best in the world."
But he is a little more than puzzled when he is introduced to his bride-to-be Toria. It's a stark choice, marry her or go into the second coffin. He tries to dissuade the pretty young girl from going through with such an arrangement.
Tamros explains why it must be so, for she is on her last legs. She recounts her sad life as an outcast convict.
So it is marriage tomorrow, at sun up! Snithy would marry her himself, only he ain't respectable like Chris Cobb. There's a celebration this night, Chris using his chance to slip away. Tamros is dancing her heart away, and her life, as she collapses, and Chris has to cut short his departure. He promises the dying woman, "I'll do everything I can... I'll look after her."
On that happy note, Tamros expires, and the preacher comes in useful for the burial service. He is really here for the wedding and it's time to start, Chris with a knife at his throat:
Minister: You can't marry a man in that position.
Smithy: Where's it say that in the Bible?
After the marriage, time for the honeymoon as Chris takes her away. "I'm all confused," Toria admits. But Chris gets her to see she should stay at the home she knows, and look after her 'family.' The minister confirms that the marriage was not binding.
What Smithy says when she returns is never told

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31 Secret of the Screaming Hills - A dying Wooster entrusts to Chris Cobb his treasure map to be given to Mrs Wooster. Quite impressive visually is the stormy scene as, guided by the Frog Man, the treasure is unearthed, though there are too many cliches to make it genuinely exciting

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32 Act of Courage
A muddle of a story on the tarnished hero theme, maybe some kinda Christmas Special, since Guy Doleman hums and plays God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
The well laden stage has arrived at Cross Creek Station. Beautiful Terry McKenna (Margo Lee) is having trouble here, in keeping control of her impressionable son Mike, who "needs a man to help him." The two faced Sundowner (Guy Doleman) is willing and able and has wormed his way into the lad's affections.
Chris has come with the stage to testify against Jamie Stewart, who had shot one of Cobb's drivers. The Stewart gang ride into town and, guns at the ready, insist noone's gonna leave town until after the trial. But one brave soul, Bill, has to, as his wife is expecting. He's beaten up, Chris joins in the fight to even up the score and Sundowner is proved to be in league with the Stewart mob. But his is an ambivalent character, much ado about nothing I would call it. He's "a good man who went wrong," and Chris appeals to his better nature not to take Mike with him when he leaves. But Mike sees him as a god.
The story drifts along and Bill's wife is now clearly in need of medical help. Chris Cobb to the rescue. He is going for help. Margo hands him a gun, and Chris is face to face with Sundowner: "I'm going thru that door," warns Chris. Mike watches to see if his hero will shoot. Peacable-like, Sundowner acts the gent and yields. But the rest of the gang won't let Chris depart so easily. Guns blaze as Chris single-handedly shoots at em, before Sundowner interrupts proceedings pleading the humanitarian cause, but is shot for his trouble. His dying breath is very philosophical. "Tell Terry, I gave her a gift for Christmas- her son." Get the hankies out, as a smiling Terry and Mike hug each other. Actually Mike was his son. Me, it ruined my Christmas
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33 Adelaide Arabs - At Wallenbridge Horse Sales Miss Virginia Jessop bids for three lovely horses, but they are stolen from her and Chris Cobb is framed. Cobb helps the police catch the real thieves who are using the horses as fast getaways from a bank robbery. But one robber (Chips Rafferty) isn't so bad, as he ends the chase, for the humane reason his horse needs a vet!

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Other Side of Swan
The Introduction explains that Melbourne was a modern city by 1840, only the news from Britain was three months behind the times.

The governor, Sir John, requests Chris Cobb to find a man thought dead for the past seven years. This man, Elliott, is the governor's brother, and someone says they have seen him in a post office in Melbourne. He's wanted in London for murder.
At this post office he'd been collecting mail from Box 24, so Chris pretends to be the man's estranged son, Fagin Jr, to elicit information as to where his 'dad' lives.
Wilfred Swan is a bank messenger who regularly takes payments to this box number. It seems that Mr Fagin had struck it rich in the gold rush. But the bank has no contact address for this man.
Chris leaves a note in the box, stating he will go to the police unless he is contacted. He is- knocked unconscious! "He came, he saw, he conquered," Chris moans ruefully to Dan.
Sir John's niece, Miss Anne Eddington (Margo Lee) invites Chris to dinner. He's the only guest. And she is no niece. She's the wife of Elliott. He works at the bank as Swan (why, as he's so rich?!). Chris is locked in an upstairs room. Elliott's wife tells Chris her husband was innocent of the murder. She should know, as she did it. She had killed her guardian, "a vicious drunkard," but her husband wanted to shield her. Will Chris keep quiet? She promises to leave Australia if he will. But Chris can't do such a dishonourable act, and so Elliott plans to drug him and deport him as the wanted criminal.
Dan has been searching for his boss, and finally spots him, tottering on the roof of the house! He's got out of his room, but the drugs seem certain to send him forty feet down to his death. Bravely, Elliott steps on to the roof to the rescue, but we all know he will fall to the ground himself.
Amazingly all he gets is a broken arm, and he is reunited with his brother with honour, voluntarily agreeing to return to Britain to stand trial.