A drama series about a wanderer and his sidekick who travel the New Zealand countryside taking on any job that's going.
Bruce Allpress as Jocko
Desmond Kelly as China
The characters first appeared in the telemovie High Country.
Season 1
1) The Great Race (22/10/1981)
With friends like China, who needs a horse and horsefloat? So China bets Jocko's and loses them. Four aces calls for drastic measures where a gambling man's concerned - a two- horse race where the winner takes all. It takes all Jocko's riding skill and guile to even the score.
Ralphie - lan Mune
Sal - Donna Akersten
Harry - Anthony Noonan
Fred - Michael Haigh
Waitress - Paddy McCullum
Music - William Southgate
Writer - Bob Leamen
Producer - Mark De Friest
Director - Roger Donaldson
2) Holiday For Two (29/10/1981)
When China finds a completed competition entry form on the floor of a shop he fills in his name and mails it. The result is a holiday for two at a posh hotel so who better to take along than his old mate Jocko. The pair are as out of place as beer at a champagne breakfast. Jocko sorts out the situation with amusing consequences.
Carl - Ray Henwood
Robin - Ralph Johnson
Sir William - Alan Jervis
Hamish - Kevin Woodill
Gerald - Patrick Smith
Ada - Kate Harcourt
Brian - Brian Staniland
Jackson - Kris Miller
Music WILLIAM SOUTHGATE
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DE FRIEST
Director TONY WILSON
3) A Piece of Dirt (05/11/1981)
When their truck. breaks down Jocko and China stay a while at "Wondermere", a rundown old property with an equally rundown and eccentric old owner. His two best mates are a bottle and an ex-borstal girl called Brenda who has taken refuge there.
Brenda - Marnie Morgan
Mike - John McKelvey
Blanche - Gael Anderson
Eunice - Ann Pacey
Kevin - Tony Eagleton
Alister - Ernie Asher
Donald - Marshall Napier
Music WILLIAM SOUTHGATE
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director PETER MUXLOW
4) Man With a Gun (12/11/1981)
Wartime buddies, crooks, cops and a man with a gun add up to tragedy when Jocko tries to help out an old mate on the run.
Brindle - Norm Keesing
Stan - Bruno Lawrence
Ham - Martyn Sanderson
Tom - Keith Aberdein
Music WILLIAM SOUTHGATE
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director ROGER DONALDSON
5) China's Gold (19/11/1981)
China has a treasure map and convinces a dubious Jocko to join him in a spot of gold prospecting. But when they reach the site they find they've got competition, female ones at that. And the only thing they strike is trouble...
Calpurnia - Davina Whitehouse
Annette - Frances Edmond
Music WILLIAM SOUTHGATE
Writer BOB LEAMAN
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director JOHN WHITWELL
6) Two's Company (26/11/1981)
China becomes an accident statistic and Jocko's on his own. Hospital is no place for China, even less for Jocko. And the intervention of a young nun creates complications.
Sister Margaret - Adele Chapman
Father Monogan - Bernard Grice
Matron - Dorothy McKegg
Mother Superior - Del King
Nurses - Denise Brough, Liz Simpson, Penny Finlay, Mary Reagan
Music WILLIAM SOUTHGATE
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director TONY WILSON
Season 2
Nine Points Of The Law (29/06/1983)
Possession is certainly that, as Jocko finds out to his cost during his first encounter with the local landowner. But where Jocko is involved events have a habit of turning full circle.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankie - Glenis Levestam
Grant Backhouse - Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Kevin - Brian Sergent
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Pat - Roy Wesney
Cliff - John Bullock
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director LES HANSEN
Bang To Rights (06/07/1983)
It takes more than a puff of wind to slow a sturdy old bridge down or up, and China's methods of bridge demolition are not as explosive as he had hoped.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankle - Glemia Levestem
Grant Backhouse - Barry Hill
Colin- Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Weeney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Kevin - Brian Sergent
Cliff - John Bullock
Bruce - Jim MacFarlane
Derek - Simon O'Connor
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Film Editor - Peter Metcalf
Film Editor - Paul Sutorius
Director LES HANSEN
National Super (13/07/1983)
When a member of the local gentry becomes involved in politics and causes problems for a top dressing pilot, Jocko thinks it's time for drastic action.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankie - Glenis Lovestam
Grant - Backhouse Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Wesney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Kevin - Brian Sergent
Cliff - John Bullock
Stumps - John Banas
Norman - Michael Wilson
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director LES HANSEN
The Huntaway (20/07/1983)
Jocko can never resist a challenge, especially when it involves the capabilities of his prized working dog.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankie - Glenis Lovestam
Grant Backhouse - Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Weeney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Kevin - Brian Sergent
Cliff - John Bullock
Virginia Beck - Teresa Woodham
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director TONY WILSON
Taking Stock (27/07/1983)
Jocko proves he has a good eye for farm stock and a special method of dealing with crooked stockmen.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankle - Glenis Levestam
Grant - Backhouse Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Weaney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
McDowell - Clifford Wood
Hunt - Ross Jolly
Cole - Keith Richardson
Editor - Paul Sutorius
Editor - Peter Metcalf
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director TONY WILSON
Playing For Keeps (03/08/1983)
During the annual town versus country cricket match China's willingness to play is scorned until he reveals hidden talents as a batsman. The opposition counter this by bringing on test cricketer Lance Cairns.
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankle - Glenis Lovestem
Grant Backhouse - Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Wesney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Kevin - Brien Sergent
Cliff - John Bullock
Lance Cairns as himself
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director TONY WILSON
Borrowed Time (10/08/1983)
When two young people decide to run away together they are pursued by angry parents. It takes all of Jocko's guile to diffuse the situation. (Final)
Nev - Anthony Noonan
Frankie - Glenis Levestam
Grant Backhouse - Barry Hill
Colin - Marshall Napier
Pat - Roy Weeney
Stella - Phillipa Dann
Kevin - Brian Sergent
Cliff - John Bullock
Charlene - Katy Pratt
Film Editor - Paul Sutorius
Film Editor - Peter Metcalf
Writer JULIAN DICKON
Producer MARK DEFRIEST
Director LES HANSEN
Comments powered by CComment