Inside Straight - Card Game (Episode Seven)

Shot on location, Inside Straight’s colourful portrait of Wellington’s underworld helped usher in a new era of urban Kiwi TV dramas, far from the backblocks. Phillip Gordon (Came a Hot Friday) stars as Steve Keenan, the everyman learning the ways of the city from taxi driver Roy Billing. Steve finds himself on the run from dodgy gamblers, while trying to raise $5000 to enter a high stakes card game. Meanwhile another cardplayer has hit town: conman Nick (Bruno Lawrence), who starts romancing Steve’s sometime girlfriend (Joanne Simpson). This episode includes an appearance by future MP Georgina Beyer, as Desdemona.

...and that's another thing, whenever you set a good hand you always scratch your head just like that.

– George (Roy Billing) reminds Steve (Phillip Gordon) how he accidentally gives his hand away while gambling

Key Cast & Crew

Phillip Gordon

As: Steve Keenan

Bruno Lawrence

As: Nick

Keith Aberdein

Creator, Writer

Roy Billing

As: Detective Sergeant George MacLean

Joanne Simpson

As: Sylvia Davies

Tony Wilson

Director