Finders Keepers, also known as The Finder, is an Australian children's television show, directed by Scott Hicks, that first aired on 28 October 1991, based on a book by Emily Rodda. The story revolves around a boy called Patrick who, whilst playing on a computer, receives an invitation to take part on a TV game show called "Finders Keepers" through a store in a shopping arcade. He accepts the invitation and is sucked into another world where he is given clues to find missing treasures from his own world and take part in an interdimensional hunt.
The show aired on ABC TV and covered the book in two seasons, each consisting of five episodes.
Cast
Main cast
Jeremy Schwerdt as Patrick
Grant Piro as Max
Paul Tresnan as Lucky
Sam Prest as The Time Keeper
Joey Kennedy as Estelle
Kate Smith as Claire
Caroline Winnall as Carol
Jacki Kerin as Boopie
Penny Maegraith as Mum
Patrick Frost as Dad
Recurring cast
Tony Mack as McCready
Geoff Revell as Parsons
John Crouch as Ross
Annese as Glide
Jethro Heysen-Hicks as Danny
Hannah Birdsey as Wendy Melini
Judy Dick as Eleanor Doon
Celine O'Leary as Anna Varga
Graham Duckett as Clyde O'Brien
Scott Withers as Ted
Scott Ellery as Bad Guard
Dorinda Hafner as Ruby
Minor cast
Michael Habib as Taxi Driver
Allan Lyne as TV Shop Man
Oriana Panozzo as Gift Shop Owner
Dylan Wells as Boy on the Bus 1
Karen Lawrence as Margret
Richard Mulhullen as Boy on the Bus 2
Gary George as Computer Shop Owner
!Matthew Randell as Stage Hand
Episodes
The Invitation
Episode 1.1
Patrick loves computers. One day, whilst he is playing a computer game, he is invited to play in the million-dollar game of Finders Keepers. No one will believe that the game exists, as it is on Channel 8 and there is no such station in Patrick's city. Patrick keeps hearing about the game until the time comes for him to play. He is almost foiled but eventually he crosses the time barrier via a TV set and begins the Finders Keepers game.
The Search
Episode 1.2
Patrick is given the task of finding a missing object that has been lost on his side of the barrier. Armed with only a clue and a beeper brooch (that beeps if he is near the object) he is sent back to his own world. He searches the zoo and the shopping centre where the brooch goes off at a gift shop. There are a few twists and turns until Patrick finally crosses the time barrier again with his "find".
The Barrier
Episode 1.3
Patrick agrees to play on in Finders Keepers. He is about to be transported back when the system breaks down, leaving him temporarily stuck on the other side. Wendy takes him to see the time barrier (the people on the other side can actually see and touch the time barrier, the audience cannot). Patrick sees objects pass through the barrier and also learns about the effects of TBE. When Patrick returns to the TV station the system breaks down even further. He is afraid he will never get home.
The Visitor
Episode 1.4
Patrick is finally sent back home only to find that Eleanor Doon's clue leads him to Estelle's ring. Patrick is torn by the dilemma of either taking Estelle's ring or missing out on winning a computer. As he debates with himself over what to do he begins to learn the truth about Estelle. He finally crosses over for the third time.
The Return
Episode 1.5
Estelle is reunited with Boopie and Patrick returns the find to Eleanor Doon, thus winning his computer. Unfortunately the system breaks down again, this time badly. Max is able to return Patrick home but without his computer. Patrick says good bye to his new friends and returns to his own side of the barrier. A few days later he receives an intriguing "present".
The Clock
Episode 2.1
Patrick finds an urgent message on his computer from Max—he needs Patrick's help. Patrick makes his way to the TV shop to be transported across the time barrier, leaving his cousin Carol at the clock. She discovers a strange ball and when she goes to tell Patrick about it she sees him transported into the barrier. Carol runs to the spot where Patrick went and she too is transported. Things are bad on the other side, there could be disaster. Carol is left stranded on the other side of the barrier, lost in a hostile environment. Max prepares to send Patrick back to find the clockmaker and fix the clock but just as Max is about to send him home agents burst in and arrest him.