The Librarians
Frances O'Brien, devout Catholic and panic disorder sufferer, runs a very tight ship as Head Librarian at the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre. Her life unravels when she is forced to employ her ex-best friend, Christine Grimwood, now facing criminal charges, as the Children's Librarian. Suddenly, long buried feelings that Frances has suppressed since she last saw Christine nineteen years ago rush at her like a truck. She must do all she can to contain Christine's menacing past and concentrate on the biggest event of the Library calendar year, Book Week.
- 2007-2010
- 3 seasons
- Comedy
Frances O'Brien, devout Catholic and panic disorder sufferer, runs a very tight ship as Head Librarian at the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre. Her life unravels when she is forced to employ her ex-best friend, Christine Grimwood, now facing criminal charges, as the Children's Librarian. Suddenly, long buried feelings that Frances has suppressed since she last saw Christine nineteen years ago rush at her like a truck. She must do all she can to contain Christine's menacing past and concentrate on the biggest event of the Library calendar year, Book Week.
Season 3 Episode Guide
8 Episodes 2010
Episode 1
Mother Pearl
26 mins
Frances is devastated when she learns that her mother, Pearl, suffering from both dementia and a really horrible personality, needs full time care. But to make matters worse, a government bureaucrat Xavier Fisher rules that public libraries are to turn a profit or face closure. With a million dollars to raise, Frances appoints Dawn to head up the fundraising campaign. But getting the rest of the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre staff motivated isn't easy. Matthew is pursuing a book deal; Nada is fighting off advances from her ex-husband Hasan, Neil has a new girlfriend Jane, and Ky is busy planning his wedding day. On the home front, Terry tells Frances he's reforming his 80s tribute band Oils Ain't Oils. If that's not enough to send Frances over the edge, she learns that her detestable mum Pearl has run up an unimaginable debt and ends up on the O'Brien's doorstep.
Episode 2
Quid Pro Quo
25 mins
With the help of Father Harris, Frances settles Pearl into a nursing home. To pay for Pearl's new accommodation at Gentle Pines, Frances needs to sell her mother's house, and fast. When Xavier Fisher learns how badly the fundraising at the library is progressing, he threatens staff cuts. Christine revs up Dawn on the fundraising front. Neil and Jane decide to go into business together and approach Frances to take over the library's cleaning contract. After the debacle at his wedding, Ky returns to work on crutches.
Episode 3
Tsukiji
26 mins
Frances meets Indigo the 'new age' real estate agent who is going to sell Pearl's house. Back at the library Christine sets up a major fundraising initiative that promises to make a lot of money. After another discouraging rejection letter for his novel, Dawn encourages Matthew to start writing DVD reviews instead.
Episode 4
Dark Before Dawn
26 mins
Pearl's nursing home, Gentle Pines, is hounding Frances for payment - money Frances doesn't have. But if she doesn't pay up, Pearl will end up living at the O'Brien house. Terry desperately seeks a buyer for the tonnes of tuna stocked up in their garage.
Episode 5
Kerching Kerching
26 mins
Frances' worst nightmare has come true... she's once again living under the same roof as her mother. With the tuna for sale on ebay, Frances hopes it won't be long before they can afford to send chain-smoking Pearl back to Gentle Pines. In the meantime, Terry is charged with keeping an eye on her during the day.
Episode 6
Milk, Not Cheese, Moon
26 mins
A security guard catches Frances and Christine trying to steal the fundraising money from the library. What could drive them to such desperate measures? Nada is visited by Jaffar Abassi, a very promising single man from the Muslim dating site. Only there's a lot more to Jaffar than his good looks and pleasant personality as both Mathew and Neil reveal. Dawn steps up her campaign to walk again, and in an effort to lose her bum, Christine is put on a strict diet and exercise regime by Ky. Oils Ain't Oils score their first gig.
Episode 7
Pearl of Wisdom
26 mins
The library is a hub of activity for Senior Citizens Day. Ky is busy conducting video interviews for an oral history project and Christine is manning the Devonshire tea stand. With the tour guide waylaid, Neil steps in to lead a group of seniors on a historical walk of Middleton.
Episode 8
Power and the Passion
27 mins
The fundraising thermometer has hit rock bottom since the closure of Showbiz Video and government bureaucrat Xavier Fisher orders immediate cutbacks. Frances is determined to make a stand and save her staff. With Peta Brady as Marzena Stovic, Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher, Peter Garrett as Himself, Stefan Bramble as Waleed, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Daniel Cordeaux as Clyde, Hunter Smith as Darren, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, Arthur Angel as Nikko.
