Sigrid Thornton

A gem sparkling with humour and intelligence and radiating with the warmth of unsentimental understanding. SCREEN INTERNATIONAL. A joy to behold! FRED YEAGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS. Told with a delicate blend of satire and nostalgia, this award-winning coming-of-age tale introduces one of Australian literature's most beloved characters to the screen, Laura Tweedle Rambothan (Susannah Fowle). Chronicling her stormy passage through the sedate halls of an...

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.

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.

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.

In times gone by, Diver Dan, Angus, and other local men formed a syndicate to share the cost of an Armani suit they could call upon for formal occasions. The arrangement had gone without incident until Laura's sister, Trudi, arrives in town, and the men battle to impress her. Trudi herself is focused on trying to patch things up with her sister, but Laura's hostility runs deep.

When Laura's mother, June, arrives in town, her suspiciously sudden appearance is more of an inconvenience than a pleasure for Laura, who is too caught up in her own life to sense her mother's sadness. Max plays along with Bob's new tourist draw-Ye Olde Pearl Bay-for his own entertainment, but he comes to Bob's rescue in an unexpected way.

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.

While Laura's on a one-way track to the altar, Max announces he has accepted a lucrative job with an international newspaper and will be leaving Pearl Bay-and Laura-behind. Of all things, a trivia night question causes Max to reassess his life. Meanwhile, Bob launches his mayoral campaign with Morton's backing.

During a heat wave, the fireworks intended for the centenary celebrations go up with a big bang, blowing the church hall they were stored in to smithereens. Felix, the expert employed by Bob to prepare the fireworks for the celebrations, is suspected of arson and charged-but none of that deters Miranda from her interest in the beguiling flame-twirler.

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.