Writer/director Paul Maunder's second drama after his award-winning Going Up North for a While is a portrait of a woman's mental health crisis. In part one Julie (Denise Maunder) is haunted by her birth mother's breakdown. Her inner monologue narrates events; Julie hopes marriage and a job will "cure" her, and falls pregnant. After a traumatic delivery, she suffers an acute episode and is admitted into care. Part two takes place in a psychiatric hospital where drugs, electroconvulsive therapy and art therapy were standard treatments at the time. Maunder undertook research at Auckland's Kingseat psychiatric hospital.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| LLisa AitkenChild | Child |
| JJohn AndersonLewis | Lewis |
| GGael AndersonMrs Proctor | Mrs Proctor |
| AAnne BattDorothy | Dorothy |
| JJean BettsBirth mother | Birth mother |
| PPat BirdlingBarbara | Barbara |
| HHelen BrewMother | Mother |
| KKaye BuchananOccupational Therapist | Occupational Therapist |
| MMarie BullockMrs Priddle | Mrs Priddle |
| SSarah BurdettChild | Child |
| GGeorgina CareyMrs McPherson | Mrs McPherson |
| LLisa CunninghamLibrary Assistant | Library Assistant |
| JJonathan DennisPatient | Patient |
| RRussell DuncanFather | Father |
| FFrank EdwardsLecturer | Lecturer |
| AAnne EnglandDrama Teacher | Drama Teacher |
| JJanice FinnNurse Lipskey | Nurse Lipskey |
| JJan FraserSocial Worker | Social Worker |
| TThelma GradmairMrs Manaia | Mrs Manaia |
| MMichael haighDr Marshall (psychiatrist) | Dr Marshall (psychiatrist) |
| MMargaret HawkinsMrs Flowers | Mrs Flowers |
| NNancy KrinkleMrs Jenkin | Mrs Jenkin |
| JJim MacfarlaneDoctor | Doctor |
| AAnne ManchesterNurse | Nurse |
| DDenise MaunderJulie | Julie |
| WWendy McFarlaneMrs Walker | Mrs Walker |
| JJane McKechniePat | Pat |
| VVivienne MorganNurse | Nurse |
| JJean PackmanNurse | Nurse |
| JJohn ReidHusband | Husband |