AustLit

'Ryan is awoken one night to find one of his friends in intense and inexplicable pain. The friend warns Ryan of a plot to kill either of two women - Jeanne Hayward or Mia Sinclair - then dies in his arms.

'Ryan sets out to find the women and the people who are plotting against them. Shortly after locating both girls, Jeanne makes an unsuccessful attempt at suicide. The other, Mia, is distraught and dangerously unstable.

'A box given to Ryan by his friend suggests some connection with black magic and when the intended victim becomes Mia, Ryan races against time to locate a Satanist sect and save her life from a savage sacrifice.'

Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).

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

'MIA SINCLAIR: Early to mid 20's. A beautiful girl whose life has been blighted by a childhood trauma. Tense, neurotic, guilt ridden - but commands enormous sympathy.

'JOHN BLACK: Early 40's. A commanding, charismatic figure. Poses as a Minister, but in fact his activities are sinister and deadly. A powerful, persuasive, attractive man who manipulates the gullible.

'JEANNE HAYWARD: Late teens, early twenties. An attractive girl who has been duped into joining Black's weird sect. From being a relatively normal, happy young girl (we don't see this phase), she has become haunted, totally unstable.

'SAMANTHA: Early thirties. Black's wife. A handsome, impressive woman. Ostensibly warm and concerned, but actually she is a complete convert to Black's sick philosophy. Probably his first disciple.

'PROFESSOR MELTON: Mid 50's. Slightly eccentric, entertaining, talkative, enthusiastic scholar, who helps Ryan in the investigation.

'DR. ERIC McLEOD: Late 30's. A psychiatrist. Likeable, attractive, empathetic. A wise and compassionate realist.

'DR. JIM INNES: 40-50. A Doctor mate of Ryan's. Bluff, good humoured G.P.

'ROBERT ELLIOT: Late 20's. A mate of Ryan's who is killed for meddling in Black's strange world. He dies in the first segment but he is the first person we see and his impact is of vital importance. Drives.

'HAL & CHARLES: Both in their twenties. Both rather narcissistic muscle men who admire Black (probably because of the kinkiness) and do his dirty work. Both big, capable of sadism. Both drive, run, fight.

'SALESGIRL: Early 20's, attractive, works in a mod shop. Couple of scenes with Ryan whom she helps and charms.

'THE SATANISTS: Perhaps 6 of them. They appear only in black, hooded robes, and engage in a major ritual. But their only contribution is chanting and speaking in unison.

'A CAT: Sleeps, spits, scratches. Needn't drive.'