On the Beach
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On the Beach
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|---|---|
| Episodes: | 3 |
| Year: | 2000 |
| Country: | United States |
| Seasons: | 1 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | (1) 3 |
| Category: | Apocalypse |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Mini-Series |
| Company: | Southern Star Entertainment, Edwards/Sullivan Productions and Coote Hayes Productions</small?> |
| Creator: | Based on On the Beach by John Paxton and Nevil Shute (Teleplay by David Williamson and Bill Kerby) |
| Run Time (mins): | 195 (all episodes) |
| Language: | English |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | Showtime |
| First Aired: | |
| Last Aired: | |
Summary
Following a global nuclear war triggered by a confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan, the USS Charleston (SSN‑704), commanded by Dwight Towers, becomes one of the last surviving American vessels. The submarine reaches Melbourne, Australia, one of the few regions not yet affected by radioactive fallout, and is placed under Royal Australian Navy authority. A mysterious automated broadcast from Alaska prompts a reconnaissance mission, during which Towers and his executive officer discover that no survivors remain and that the signal originates from a solar‑powered laptop still transmitting.
As radiation spreads worldwide, the crew returns to Melbourne, where the executive officer succumbs to terminal radiation sickness and is euthanized by Towers. Social order collapses as residents confront imminent contamination, leading to widespread distribution of government‑issued suicide medication. Holmes and his family choose a collective death; Osborne dies in a deliberate racing accident.
With the Charleston’s crew fatally irradiated, they request a final voyage to San Francisco, wishing to die aboard their ship. Towers agrees but ultimately returns to Moira Davidson as the submarine departs. The narrative implies that Towers and Moira will later take their suicide pills together, as no possibility of survival remains.
Cast
Cmdr. Dwight Towers ARMAND ASSANTE, Moira Davidson RACHEL WARD, Dr. Julian Osborne BYRAN BROWN, Mary Davidson Holmes JACQULIEN MCKENZIE, Lt. Peter Holmes GRANT BOWLER, Jenny Holmes ALLISON WEBBER, Jenny Holmes TIEGHAN WEBBER, First Officer Neil Hirsch STEVE BASTONI, Chief Wawrzeniak DAVID PATERSON, Sonarman Bobby Swain KEVIN COPELAND, Radioman Giles TODD MACDONALD, Lt. Tony Garcia JOE PETRUZZI, Crewman Reid CRAIG BEAMER, Crewman Parsons JONATHAN OLDHAM, Crewman Samuel Huynh TRENT HUEN.
Crewman Rossi DONNI FRIZZELL, Crewman Burns JONATHAN STUART, Seaman Sulman SAM LOY, Seaman Byers CHARLIE CLAUSEN, Cook Gratino ROBERT RABIAH, Cook Walmsey MARC CARRA, Admiral Jack Cunningham ROD MULLINAR, Lt. Ashton FELICITY BOYD, Prime Minister Seaton BILL HUNTER, Professor Alan Nordstrum CHARLES TINGWELL, Reg MARK MITCHELL, Martin JOHN HIGGINSON, Jenny Albani KATE KENDALL, British Anchorwoman HEATHER MITCHELL, U.S. President NICHOLAS HAMMOND, Press Secretary BRUCE HUGHES, U.S. Analyst DAVID TREDINNICK, Dinner Woman ANTONIA MURPHY, Dinner Man ADAM MCKEE, School Teacher MICHAEL FRY.
Post Mistress JENNIFER CASTLES, Boat Builder PETER MENDOZA, Sharon Towers ALYCE PLATT, Angela Towers MADELINE CENEDESE, Cal Towers DARREN CASHA, Jimmy Nofly DAVID ARGUE, Hospital Doctor TOM CONSIDINE, Nurse CATHERINE SUTHERLAND, Pharmacist MARK PENNELL, Overcliff Father WARWICK BEGG, Overcliff Mother SANDRA MURPHY, Overcliff Girl CARLIE MURPHY, Overcliff Boy JOHN MURPHY, Submarine Guard ROBERT LOWE, Café Girl RACHEL VALENTYNE, Café Guy #1 CHRISTIAN BELL, Beans MARTIN COPPING, Screaming Woman JULIE DAY.
Girl in Lane Way NAOMI RAMOS, Guy in Lane Way JORGE ONASIS, Girl with Dog NINA GODINBO, U.S. Anchorman MICHAEL CARMAN, French Interviewer FREDERIQUE FOUCHE, Officer ROBBIE MACFARLANE, Interviewer CHRIS CUMMINS, Journalist #1 TRENT BAKER, Journalist #2 STEPHANIE CHEN, Homeless Youth SIMON LYSSIOTIS, DAVID TALESKI, Passerby (uncredited) BASSEM ABOUSAID, Gang Leader (uncredited) PASCAL MERCAY.
Tags: Apocalypse, United States, 2000, English
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