First Night Nerves

All images on this page were provided by Matt and come from The Bill for Australians
Written by Patrick Melanaphy, produced by Jeannine Jones and directed by Michael Cocker

This episode is a continuation of the hotel undercover/illegal immigration storyline. The hotel is set up and started and Tony is put into his role as a truck driver where he winds up disposing of another illegal immigrant who didn't make it, Berisha takes out bait beautifully, the techie type puts a camera in Polly and Dave's bedroom and we discover that Petrit has his own agenda - a lost sister.

It opens with Detective Inspector Alex Cullen handing out folders of information and introducing Petrit and Bob Nicholson at a briefing about the hotel operation. Alex is wearing a very blue suit, blue spotted tie and a slightly blue shirt. Alex also leads part of the briefing about Berisha. While he's signing something Alex reveals two things - a decent pencil grip (well, it thrilled *this* teacher) and a silver banded, dark-faced (blue?) watch.

I do love watching the old and the young redhead - Derek Conway and Alex Cullen together.

A non-Cullen highlight is Debbie and Mickey playing slot cars together in the kiddy bedroom they've taken over for their obbo. Mental age and all of that ;-)

Cullen doesn't have a huge part but as the main man in charge of the undercover, he wanders in and out cajoling, convincing and kicking the occasional butt. There is a nice moment where he looks every bit of disdain he feels for Debbie after the obbo team have been caught napping on the job. Unfortunately, he doesn't manage to catch dear darling Debbie in a lie about another ball-drop.

Our Alex is no party animal - he misses the opening night party in favour of leaning over his shower's shoulders and watching it. This means of course that we get ripped off seeing a certain ruby-haired gentleman in full evening dress again. 9 Still this does mean that he s around to answer Tony's call about having to dispose of a dead body - Alex is as cool and unruffled as ever. He does get a bit cross though when Petrit manages to get so far up Berisha's nose it looks like he's going to be the next stir fry. He snarls on his mobile to Derek,

You can tell Nicholson I'm not happy.

He's just left.

Oh, might have known he'd have sloped off. Well, I want to see him first thing in the morning.

Does occur to me that speaking more politely to a senior officer would be a good idea, you know… but perhaps the red hair isn't just decoration ;-)

Tie rating