Terry Inglis
Encyclopedia
Terry Inglis is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
played by Maxine Klibingaitis
. She made her first appearance on 11 June 1985. Terry was employed by Max Ramsay
as his plumber's apprentice. Terry dated Shane Ramsay
and Paul Robinson
who she married. Terry kills Charles Durham and later shoots Paul when he goes to report her to the police. Terry departed on 5 November 1985, when she was arrested for the murder of Charles. Terry later commits suicide off-screen and she remains the only character to have died this way.
). She arrives in Ramsay Street after getting a job with Max
(Francis Bell
). Terry forms "some kind of attachment" to Shane Ramsay
(Peter O'Brien), which makes his aunt, Madge
(Anne Charleston
), uncomfortable. Terry starts dating Paul Robinson
(Stefan Dennis
), but their relationship does not begin well as she is still in love with Shane, who now dating her best friend Daphne Lawrence
(Elaine Smith
). Paul is late to their wedding and Terry spends the ceremony and the reception looking "cow-eyed" at Shane. Terry later tries to trick Paul out of his money and she shoots him. Their relationship ended in "heartache, attempted murder and inevitable divorce." Terry is sent to prison and the BBC
said Terry "suffered in the long run." Terry takes her own life off screen in 1986 and remains the only character to have died this way.
Terry falls for Max's son, Shane and they begin dating. Terry tells Shane that she was married to Gordon Miller, who caused a car accident that Shane was involved in. Gordon escapes from prison and holds Terry and Max hostage. However, Shane saves the day and Miller goes back to prison. Terry and Shane later split and Terry goes on a date with Shane's friend, Paul Robinson. At the end of the date, Paul proposes to Terry and they become engaged. Terry asks Paul's older sister, Julie (Vikki Blanche), to be her bridesmaid. Paul and Terry are married in the Robinson house within a month and Paul's father, Jim
(Alan Dale
), rents Number 30 for the couple.
However, Terry's criminal past finally catches up with her. A mysterious man, Charles Durham (Ross Thompson), shows up in Erinsborough, searching for a tape Terry had made of him boasting about his crimes. Paul's younger sister, Lucy Robinson
(Kylie Flinker), accidentally loses the tape and Terry's life becomes threatened by Charles. Fearful of what would happen to her, Terry goes over to Charles' house to confront him. An argument breaks out, which results in Terry shooting Charles dead. Terry flees his house in shock and Daphne Lawrence finds Charles' body when she comes looking for Terry. Daphne gets blood on her skirt and she flees the house to look for Terry. Charles' accomplice Barbara Hill (Louise Le Nay
) is watching Daphne and she reports her to the police instead.
Terry suggests to Paul that they move away, to which Paul agrees. When they attend Daphne and Des Clarke
's (Paul Keane
) engagement party, they find Daphne is absent. When she does eventually show up, she is keen to get Terry alone and confront her, but getting Terry alone proves difficult. Lucy notices the blood on Daphne's skirt and the police arrive following the tip off from Barbara. The police interview everyone and Paul tells them that Charles had been threatening Terry. Paul is also unable to provide an alibi for Terry. While the police are interviewing Terry, Paul picks up her bag and the gun she shot Charles with falls out. Paul confronts Terry and she initially tries to dismiss Paul's suspicions. However, Paul goes to report Terry to the police and she grabs the gun and shoots him in the shoulder. She then flees Ramsay Street, leaving Paul for dead. The police catches up with Terry and she is jailed for murder. Terry sends Paul a letter asking him to visit her, which he declines. Terry then commits suicide in prison.
' most controversial ever storylines" by Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
. In 1985, Grundy Television had insisted that Neighbours was not going to be melodramatic, but falling ratings led the writers to try and increase viewership by having Terry shoot both Charles and Paul. Author of Super Aussie soaps, Andrew Mercado said this move followed one of soap's great traditions of including gunfire when ratings were low. During a feature on Paul Robinson and his many wives and girlfriends, The Sydney Morning Herald
said "Remember the tears when Paul's whirlwind romance with plumber's assistant Terry Inglis ended in her shooting him, then shooting through?" The BBC said Terry's most notable moment was "Trying to shoot Paul Robinson."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
played by Maxine Klibingaitis
Maxine Klibingaitis
Maxine Klibingaitis is an Australian actress. She played the character Bobbie Mitchell in the series Prisoner from 1983 to 1985, and later played Paul Robinson's first wife Terry Inglis in Neighbours in 1985. She was married to the Australian television director, Andrew Friedman and they have one...
. She made her first appearance on 11 June 1985. Terry was employed by Max Ramsay
Max Ramsay
Max Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Francis Bell. He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode on 18 March 1985. Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street is named after his grandfather...
as his plumber's apprentice. Terry dated Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
and Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
who she married. Terry kills Charles Durham and later shoots Paul when he goes to report her to the police. Terry departed on 5 November 1985, when she was arrested for the murder of Charles. Terry later commits suicide off-screen and she remains the only character to have died this way.
Character development
Terry was once married to a bank robber, Gordon Miller (Red SymonsRed Symons
Redmond Symons is an Australian musician, writer, actor and radio host, probably best known as lead guitarist with Skyhooks and as the snide judge of "Red Faces", a segment of the long-running Hey Hey It's Saturday variety television show...
). She arrives in Ramsay Street after getting a job with Max
Max Ramsay
Max Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Francis Bell. He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode on 18 March 1985. Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street is named after his grandfather...
(Francis Bell
Francis Bell (actor)
Francis Bell was a UK-born New Zealand resident actor who achieved international stardom playing the part of original character Max Ramsay in the early years of the popular Australian soap opera, Neighbours. during his career he also acted in Australian serials The Sullivans and Sons and...
). Terry forms "some kind of attachment" to Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
(Peter O'Brien), which makes his aunt, Madge
Madge Bishop
Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986. Madge was one of the matriarchs of the Ramsay family. She departed in 1992, before making a return in 1996...
(Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston is an Australian actress currently based in Galway, Ireland and the UK. She is known for her roles as Madge Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale.-Early career:...
), uncomfortable. Terry starts dating Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
(Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
), but their relationship does not begin well as she is still in love with Shane, who now dating her best friend Daphne Lawrence
Daphne Clarke
Daphne Rose Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elaine Smith. She made her first on-screen appearance in the serial's first episode on 18 March 1985. Daphne a stripper hired for Des Clarke's bucks party and she moved in him. She and Des fell in love...
(Elaine Smith
Elaine Smith (actress)
Elaine Smith found fame as an actress on Australian television.She is best known for her role as Daphne Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours...
). Paul is late to their wedding and Terry spends the ceremony and the reception looking "cow-eyed" at Shane. Terry later tries to trick Paul out of his money and she shoots him. Their relationship ended in "heartache, attempted murder and inevitable divorce." Terry is sent to prison and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said Terry "suffered in the long run." Terry takes her own life off screen in 1986 and remains the only character to have died this way.
Storylines
Maria Ramsay (Dasha Blahova) is charged with the task of hiring a plumber's assistant for her husband, Max, and Terry shows up for an interview. Terry is keen to prove that she can do the job as well as any man. Maria supports her and gives Terry the job. Max assumes that his wife had hired a man when he hears Terry's name and is shocked to find out that Terry is a woman. Max tells her that he will not hire her, but Terry tells him that she had completed three years at a Technical College. She then threatens Max with the Anti-Discrimination Board and Max gives her a trial run. Max deliberately sets out to make life as difficult as possible for Terry by giving her the hardest jobs, but Terry proves to be a great plumber. Max eventually admits that Terry is the best person for the job.Terry falls for Max's son, Shane and they begin dating. Terry tells Shane that she was married to Gordon Miller, who caused a car accident that Shane was involved in. Gordon escapes from prison and holds Terry and Max hostage. However, Shane saves the day and Miller goes back to prison. Terry and Shane later split and Terry goes on a date with Shane's friend, Paul Robinson. At the end of the date, Paul proposes to Terry and they become engaged. Terry asks Paul's older sister, Julie (Vikki Blanche), to be her bridesmaid. Paul and Terry are married in the Robinson house within a month and Paul's father, Jim
Jim Robinson (Neighbours)
James "Jim" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, which was the shows first episode. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after...
(Alan Dale
Alan Dale
Alan Hugh Dale is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a rugby player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27. With work limited in New...
), rents Number 30 for the couple.
However, Terry's criminal past finally catches up with her. A mysterious man, Charles Durham (Ross Thompson), shows up in Erinsborough, searching for a tape Terry had made of him boasting about his crimes. Paul's younger sister, Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. She had previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure...
(Kylie Flinker), accidentally loses the tape and Terry's life becomes threatened by Charles. Fearful of what would happen to her, Terry goes over to Charles' house to confront him. An argument breaks out, which results in Terry shooting Charles dead. Terry flees his house in shock and Daphne Lawrence finds Charles' body when she comes looking for Terry. Daphne gets blood on her skirt and she flees the house to look for Terry. Charles' accomplice Barbara Hill (Louise Le Nay
Louise Le Nay
Louise Le Nay is an Australian actress, best known for playing Sandy Edwards in Prisoner in a role which spanned the end of 1981 and the beginning of 1982 on screen. In the show, Sandy became Top Dog whilst Bea Smith was in hospital, and was a popular and key character...
) is watching Daphne and she reports her to the police instead.
Terry suggests to Paul that they move away, to which Paul agrees. When they attend Daphne and Des Clarke
Des Clarke (Neighbours)
Desmond Kingsley "Des" Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode.-Stroylines:...
's (Paul Keane
Paul Keane
Paul Keane is an Australian actor well known for playing Des Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours. Other TV credits include Bliss and Flight Into Hell. He was trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1983....
) engagement party, they find Daphne is absent. When she does eventually show up, she is keen to get Terry alone and confront her, but getting Terry alone proves difficult. Lucy notices the blood on Daphne's skirt and the police arrive following the tip off from Barbara. The police interview everyone and Paul tells them that Charles had been threatening Terry. Paul is also unable to provide an alibi for Terry. While the police are interviewing Terry, Paul picks up her bag and the gun she shot Charles with falls out. Paul confronts Terry and she initially tries to dismiss Paul's suspicions. However, Paul goes to report Terry to the police and she grabs the gun and shoots him in the shoulder. She then flees Ramsay Street, leaving Paul for dead. The police catches up with Terry and she is jailed for murder. Terry sends Paul a letter asking him to visit her, which he declines. Terry then commits suicide in prison.
Reception
Terry's off-screen suicide was called "one of NeighboursLowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
. In 1985, Grundy Television had insisted that Neighbours was not going to be melodramatic, but falling ratings led the writers to try and increase viewership by having Terry shoot both Charles and Paul. Author of Super Aussie soaps, Andrew Mercado said this move followed one of soap's great traditions of including gunfire when ratings were low. During a feature on Paul Robinson and his many wives and girlfriends, The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
said "Remember the tears when Paul's whirlwind romance with plumber's assistant Terry Inglis ended in her shooting him, then shooting through?" The BBC said Terry's most notable moment was "Trying to shoot Paul Robinson."
External links
- Character profile at the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...