Rude Awakenings

Patrick Wilson

Arthur Short

Marise Wipani

Sharon Short

Rose McIver

Constance Short

Carl Bland

Stuart Rush

Hannah Tasker-Poland

Amber Short

Seasons

Season 1

11 episodes

Premiered Feb 9, 2007

Episodes

1–6 of 11

Ep 1

Perfect Little Rosebud

Feb 9, 2007

Dimity Rush craves change. Human Resources Manager for a debt collection agency, she's been marooned for eight years on a Kumeu lifestyle block where anaesthetist husband Stuart planned to grow olives. Now she's taking charge, dragging her family into Ponsonby, to kick-start her life and marriage. Over the fence, long-term renter Arthur Short and his two girls are struggling to cope now mum’s gone and shacked up with a woman. When Arthur hears his place is on the market, and that Dimity has already poked her nose in, the battlelines are drawn.

Ep 2

Speed Wobbles

Feb 16, 2007

Dimity's incensed Stuart would give up medicine just because he killed someone, while Stuart can’t believe her real estate plans jeopardize their family assets. He takes Ollie to stay at the home of playboy surgeon Spencer, leaving Dimity to seek comfort in the arms of her personal trainer.

Ep 3

Land Grab

Feb 23, 2007

Dimity Rush's lovely Ponsonby life is in jeopardy – Stuart won't come home, and Julian steals money to support his new girlfriend, Arthur’s daughter Amber. Then her home is invaded by a disgruntled former employee, but Dimity is saved by the unwanted intervention of ex-social worker Arthur, which infuriates her and does nothing for neighbourly relations. Dimity resolves to play her last card to outbid Arthur and evict him – wangling a huge company loan from her deeply admiring boss John.

Ep 4

Battleground

Mar 2, 2007

Dimity is on a natural high as her notice to evict Arthur ruins his birthday. While Dim celebrates with a new Ponsonby hairdo, Constance starts to work her devious magic behind the scenes, grooming Dimity’s seven year old Ollie as a secret agent and planting him back inside his own family as a mole. And Arthur discovers just how dodgy his mate Ralph really is.

Ep 5

Burn Time

Mar 9, 2007

Dimity's back gives out in a tug-of-war with Arthur, and Bonnie's husband Jase comforts her with a backrub. Taped by Ollie, this is dynamite in Constance’s hands. Sharon Short attempts to sort out her wayward daughter but her lover Dara goes on the attack.

Ep 6

A Big Kick

Mar 16, 2007