Scorched | |
---|---|
Written by | Tim Pye |
Directed by | Tony Tilse |
Starring |
Georgie Parker Rachael Carpani Vince Colosimo Libby Tanner Cameron Daddo Bobby Morley Alexandra Fowler Kate Bell Brittany Byrnes |
Theme music composer | Guy Gross |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Producer(s) |
Rosemary Blight Ellenor Cox Kylie Du Fresne |
Editor(s) | Geoffrey Lamb |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Nine Network |
Original release | 31 August 2008 |
Scorched is an Australian television movie broadcast on the Nine Network on 31 August 2008. The telemovie was titled Strike Team, which was ultimately as a decoy due to the state government having been uncomfortable about the premise and plot of the script. Scorched won the International Emmy Award for Digital Program: Fiction in 2009.
Scorched looks at the problems of climate change and water scarcity in the near future. The year is 2012, and after over 240 days without rain, Sydney has only two weeks of water left.
As a state of emergency is declared when a ring of bushfires erupt around the city, a reporter uncovers a conspiracy behind the water crisis.
It's several days before Christmas in 2012, and Sydney is in the midst of a water crisis. Despite the creation of a desalination plant, which NSW Premier Angela Boardman insists creates millions of litres of fresh water a day, the city is still under Level 8 water restrictions. The western suburbs especially are seriously dry.
Ambitious CPN reporter Susan Shapiro launches an investigation into the crisis. Her report catches the attention of the Premier, who grants Shapiro an interview. Although Shapiro is amicable (perhaps too much so - her cameraman Teddy accuses her of turning into Oprah), she is still suspicious. And with good reason; later conversation between Boardman and her Chief of Staff Tom Daily reveal they are sharing a secret that could end both their careers.
David Langmore, the State Operations Commander for the National Fire Service, is preparing dinner when he receives a call from Shapiro. He is angry that the reporter has called him at home and insists the water shortage has been caused solely by a lack of rain.
ER doctor Michael Francia is enjoying some quiet time with his pregnant wife Lizzie when Emily, his daughter from a previous relationship, shows up on his door. She has had a fight with her mother and needs a place to stay, even though, as she later confesses to her stepmother Lizzie, she isn't sure if her father likes her.