AustLit

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'ARTHUR DEAKIN: Age 40-50. A large, shambling Welshman who has won international fame as a poet. He is a flamboyant character, often drunk, fond of a fistfight whenever he gets the chance. He uses language as a weapon to bluster his way out of tight corners. But all the hammy bluster conceals an insecure personality. He feels himself disintegrating since his wife divorced him. He has even lost the capacity to write. He comes to Melbourne determined to get her back at all costs.

'ELLEN DEAKIN: Age 30-40. An attractive down-to-earth woman. She divorced Arthur because she could see no hope of a reasonable life for herself or her son. But she is still deeply in love with him. So much so that she runs for her life whenever he appears because she knows he can and will talk her round into returning to him. Car driver. Some kind of English accent.

'COLIN CLARK: 30-40. Ellen's current fiancé. Good-looking. He owns an art gallery. Rather pompous with a deep streak of meanness. Car driver.

[Note: The accent in 'fiancé' has been added in black ink.]

'HERBERT MORGAN: 60-70. Petty thief and down-and-out. Arthur befriends him and Herbert repays the friendship with an unswerving loyalty to Arthur. Very sympathetic character.

'JEAN PAISLEY: 22-25. A once attractive girl whose life has been destroyed by mental illness. She breaks into Colin Clark's gallery and slashes several paintings belonging to a valuable international collection.

'GIL SUMMERS: 35-50. Professor of English Literature at a local university. A liberal thinking man who is a little out of his depth in trying to handle Arthur.

'BARMAN: Any age.

'WILSON: / CARTER: Smart-Alec petty crims who refuse Herbert a loan. Both are quite young.

'T.V. INTERVIEWER: 30-40. Interviews Arthur on television.

'FLOOR MANAGER: Has a tussle with Arthur and is very upset when making his complaint at the police station.

'T.V. CAMERAMAN: No dialogue. Resists Arthur's attempt to take over the camera.

'PRESS REPORTER: Interviews Arthur in one scene.

'PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER: Takes photograph.

'WOMEN NEIGHBOUR: Two good film scenes. She protests when she sees Arthur breaking into Ellen's house.

'TWO SCHOOLBOYS: They point out a body to the police. No dialogue.

'EXTRA (FEMALE): Elegant looking, well dressed hotel guest.

'CUSTOMER (MALE) Age 50-60. Prosperous and well-spoken.

'TAXI DRIVER'.