Tom Long

An invitation to the annual magistrate's dinner dance confirms Laura's suspicion that she is single in a world designed for couples. At least it encourages her to invite Dan, but her ego is battered when he surrenders himself with a pile of unpaid fines, choosing a jail sentence over a date with her. Karen questions how well she knows her parents when they return to town as born-again hippies.

Jealousy runs rife in Pearl Bay as the dreaded CFA Dance approaches. Taking advantage of this year's Latin theme, seductive flamenco instructor Francesca spins into town-instantly scoring the attention of the menfolk, including Max. While Bob's real estate license remains suspended, Heather reluctantly puts hers to use.

In just 24 hours, corporate lawyer Laura Gibson's life is decimated. She is passed up for partnership, her son is expelled, and she discovers her husband has squandered their life savings and has been cheating on her. Desperate to escape, she accepts a job as magistrate of a small coastal town and packs her kids into the station wagon, headed for Pearl Bay.

Trouble in the ranks, backstabbing, and a raging hungi debate...Laura couldn't have picked a worse time to join the Women's Auxiliary. Her sojourn into the world of sponge cake and tea rooms is soon cut short by club president Vicki Drury, whose husband soon lands himself in Laura's court. On assignment at a toxic waste dump, Max and Carmen's squabbling takes a personal turn.

Laura is reluctant to spread the news of her impending marriage, but she is keen to sever all legal ties with Jack. However, when Jack pays Laura what he owes, she feels unexpectedly hollow. Construction work finally begins on the tunnel site, arousing Max's curiosity, and he's not shy about sharing what he finds. Wife-less and facing a lengthy prison sentence, Bob Jelly decides to end it all.

Jack's fraud trial is finally being heard, and the kids convince Laura to support him in person. Back in the city, unexpected sparks fly between the exes, just as Laura is offered a spanking new job. Laura must decide if she wants to return to the "real world" or stay by the sea.

Laura and Dan's relationship would be perfect-if it wasn't for everything else in Laura's life. As Rupert schemes to get his parents back together, Dan tempts Laura with talk of travel to exotic places, and she struggles to find a way to fit his dream into her reality. Meanwhile, tax prosecutor Katrina Fennessy arrives in town and senses an opportunity for Pearl Bay, with the help of Bob Jelly.

Laura desperately wants to be honest with Warwick about her night with Max, but the moment constantly eludes her. With the rocky Jelly marriage creating bad PR, Morton threatens Heather into supporting Bob to keep face, but Heather fights back. Max's investigations into Morton's enterprise reveal shocking information.

With Katrina having absconded with the savings of the entire town, Bob Jelly is contemplating suicide. But when Katrina is caught red-handed through the combined efforts of Max and Sergeant Grey, the town's fortunes take a turn for the better, and then the worse, and then the better again. During this roller-coaster, Bob and Sergeant Grey each face their own moral dilemmas.

Laura suffers the fallout of a canceled wedding, while Miranda and Craig are arrested for trespassing after protesting at the tunnel site. When Laura learns all the police and legal authority in town are Morton's Port Deakin stooges, she quits her position as magistrate. The townsfolk pray for a miracle to save Pearl Bay, and Laura and Max have a momentous choice to make.