Deep Water – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.22

Overview: Becky Howard goes ballistic when Brian Cronin drops by Drovers Run to gloat at the charges against him being dropped. The very next day, Meg Fountain and Claire McLeod find his dead body in the dam, and immediately suspect Becky of murdering his rapist. To protect Becky, the women take the body out of Drovers Run, and dump it in the national park to make it look like an accident. Meanwhile, everyone has to put the matter of finding Brian’s dead body behind to attend the charity polo match that Jodi Fountain organized as part of her campaign for the Miss Gungellan crown.

Synopsis: Becky Howard returns to the shearers’ quarters only to find Brian Cronin sitting in her room. The man has come to personally tell her about his good fortune. The other rape victim, Kimmy, had a change of heart, and decided to withdraw from the case also stating that her story is all but a lie. With Kimmy dropping the charges against her rapist, Brian Cronin walks away a free man. This terribly upsets Becky who had gone postal at her violator’s gloating, and the injustice of it all.   Continue reading...

The next day, the women worry at where Becky had gone. The young woman had not yet returned after taking off with the Ute the previous night. Later, they hear the Ute on the driveway. Claire McLeod checks on the troubled young woman, and finds her with a large bruise on her forehead, and her shirt all bloodied. The young woman insists on leaving Drovers’ Run, but Claire manages to convince her to stay especially after seeing the condition she is in. With her resting, the women continue their chores with Meg Fountain helping out with the farm work in place of Becky, and Tess McLeod volunteering on taking Becky’s place on the charity polo match that Jodi Fountain had organized as part of her campaign for the Miss Gungellan crown. All is well until Jodi finds Brian Cronin’s Ute abandoned by the ruins, and Meg and Claire find his dead body floating at one of Drovers Run’s dams. The women think of various scenarios that would have led to Brian’s death, but there is no escaping the most probable cause. Becky Howard killed Brian.

Convinced that the young station hand took justice into her own hands, Claire McLeod and Meg Ryan decide to hide the dead body. Using the victim’s Ute, the two wrap his body in tarp, and haul it in his vehicle. Claire and Meg drive to the National Park where they dump his body into the creak that passes through it.

Later that night, Claire, Jodi, and Meg sit in silence. Tess McLeod clueless at what the women know, and had done, jokingly asks who died basing her question by the looks on their faces. However, Tess only associates their sullen mood to the upcoming polo match. She later goes on about her plan on talking to Constable Cook about her theory. She believes that there has been a cover-up. The women become alarmed, but then realize that she was referring to the cover-up on Becky’s case with Tess arguing that very little was done, because the injustice was done to a woman. Becky joins them, and Tess’ inappropriate choice of words made the guilty women uncomfortable. Tess senses that something was up, and she confronts her sister about it. Claire McLeod tells her what they had done. Finding everything that her sister had told her completely outrageous, Tess thinks that Claire was merely pulling her leg, but when her sister makes it very clear that all she had said are true, the gravity of their situation begins to sink in. The women of Drovers Run are convinced that Becky Howard murdered Brian Cronin.

The day of the polo match arrives. Jodi Fountain worries that she won’t be able to keep their secret especially with Constable Cook coming to support her cause. While the women are having breakfast, their first guest arrives. Lo and behold, it is Constable Cook. He tries to get a word to Becky Howard to tell her what Brian already did. The Constable, however, tries to assure her that although the case will not push through given the unlikelihood of a conviction, it does not translate to Brian’s exoneration. Becky, however, is already convinced that no justice will be done. Not ready to face people, Becky excuses herself from the polo match to do farm work instead. In surveying the farm, she comes across Jodi’s necklace by the dam, and sees tire tracks near it. Brick noticing that the young woman is not anywhere in sight, and learning from Tess that she had decided to do work goes out to find her. He finds her by the border fixing fences. Brick who already heard the news about the charges against Brian being dropped tries to give the young woman some comfort by telling her that he believes her, but Becky was still too upset at the injustice done to her.

The polo match had commenced. Team captains Claire McLeod and Alex Ryan pick their players. Knowing Tess’ awful riding skills, she gets picked last, and was assigned the job of keeping score. Claire’s team is being slaughtered, and her scoring a hit on another team’s goal did not help one bit. During halftime, her teammates that include Constable Cook all agree to give the other team a doze of their own medicine – cheat. First up on Claire’s team’s bag of dirty tricks is loosening Alex Ryan’s saddle, which caused the team captain to fall off his horse. This gave Claire the opportunity to snatch the ball, and score a goal. Next up included numerous distractions, which all proved effective. Finally, time has run out, and the match is over. All are anxious to know who won. Tess being named official score keeper announces that both teams are charged with excessive cheating, therefore both are disqualified, and no one really won the game.

Meg Fountain still troubled by the death of Brian Cronin decides to talk to Terry Dodge about it without giving specific details. She tries to pick his brain on how Terry would react if he were to find out that someone he knows or even lives with had murdered someone out of sheer desperation. Her question had made Terry completely uncomfortable causing him to take off without saying a word.

All is well until Becky Howard arrives to deliver the bad news to Claire McLeod. She found dead cattle in their property. Given the uncertainty on what is killing the cattle in Drovers Run, Peter Johnson decides to move Brave J out of Drovers. Meanwhile, Becky gives Jodi Fountain the necklace she dropped by the dam. This caused Jodi to blab about the cover-up they had done to protect Becky from the crime they have convinced themselves she committed. Now that all that is in the open, the women of Drovers Run gather to discuss their situation. Becky could not believe that the women thought that she killed Brian, but they argue that it is not far-fetched given that she had once shot him on the leg. Moreover, her returning banged up with no recollection of the previous night proved too much of a coincidence. Becky Howard assures them that she did not murder Brian Cronin. Her bruises were a result of her hitting her head on the wheel after driving completely intoxicated that caused her to lose control of the Ute.

The women return to the dam where they found Brian’s dead body to make sense of what happened. Becky surveys the dam, and finds drum marks by the side of it. They sweep the dam, and find an empty drum filled with poison. As it turns out, Brian Cronin had been poisoning Drovers Run’s water source to get back at them for driving him out of town. Meg Fountain is relieved at the evidence that clearly shows that Brian had drowned by accident, while Claire McLeod is ecstatic to learn that her cattle had been deliberately poisoned, and not struck by illness. Tess, however, reminds them of the one problem they have yet to straighten out. They moved Brian’s dead body to the National Park to make it look like he drowned there by accident. However, traces of poison that would match the ones in their dam would indicate that he died at Drovers Run, and that his body was obviously moved.

Meg Fountain runs to the cottage to gather things they need to return Brian’s body to Drovers Run. She, however, receives an unexpected guest – an intoxicated Terry Dodge. With Meg attending to Terry, the dirty work is left to Claire, Tess, and Becky. Becky watches as Claire and Tess McLeod pull her attacker’s dead body out of the water. Becky thought that seeing her rapist’s dead body would make her feel better, but it did not.

Later, a sober Terry Dodge confronts Meg Fountain about what he thought Meg found out. He tells her that when he was young, he used to go out, and get himself drunk. Then when he was twenty-one, a man had picked a fight with him at a bar. Tragically, the final punch he laid on the man was too hard. The man fell, and bumped his head causing his neck to snap. The man died instantly, and Terry was charged with involuntary manslaughter for which he spent three, and a half years in jail paying for his crime. Terry Dodge continues to regret what he had done, and had stopped drinking alcohol altogether. Meg’s question earlier had brought about this bad memory, and he became worried that she had found out about his past, and would not want anything to do with him. Meg assures Terry that she does not see him as a murderer, and that it was a terrible accident for which he already made amends.

Constable Cook arrives startling Jodi Fountain. He has come to bring Claire the news that it was poison that is killing her cattle. Moreover, he needs to investigate whether her water was deliberately poisoned. Peter Johnson also arrives to talk to Claire. He is equally glad to learn that her cattle are not infected with BJD. Though Jodi manages to make the constable wait in the house for Claire’s return, she fails to do the same with Peter Johnson who decided to go out and look for her. As he was driving out of Drovers, he finds Claire who happens to be driving Brian’s Ute with Tess followed by Becky in Drovers Run’s Ute. Claire gets out of the vehicle to talk to Peter who is happy to tell her the news. He then goes over to the back of the Ute mistaking Brian’s body wrapped in tarp as another dead steer. To keep him from finding out what it truly is, Claire McLeod blocks him, and surprises him with a kiss. The two passionately kiss leaving Tess and Becky in shock at what they are witnessing. It, however, did a great job of distracting Peter, and the man leaves without a fuss. With him out of the way, the three drive back to the dam to dump Brian’s dead body back where they found it. They arrive at the main house to find Constable Cook with Jodi who had stuffed her mouth with food to prevent herself from spilling the beans. Constable Cook tells Claire about the poison the lab found in her cattle, and Claire tells him about the drum they found at the dam, and also Brian’s dead body.

Days later, Constable Cook returns to Drovers Run to tell her about the autopsy report on Brian Cronin’s body. The police had officially declared Brian’s death as an accident on the account of poisoned water found in his lungs, which indicated that Brian was alive when he fell in the dam. Moreover, the cut on his forehead matches the perforations on the edge of the drum. The police believe that Brian Cronin was dumping poison in the dam when he slipped, and hit his forehead on the drum. Also, because he was heavily intoxicated, Brian passed out in the dam, and drowned. However, Constable Cook did mention to them that the report also tells of signs that the body was moved around. The women of Drovers Run deny any knowledge of this, and Becky Howard also makes it known that even if they knew something there would not be enough evidence to convict. If Brian Cronin got away with raping two young women due to lack of evidence, surely the very little evidence of his body being moved around would not stick. What goes around comes around.

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Friends Like These – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.21

Overview: Simon and Briony, two of Tess McLeod’s closest friends drop by Drover’s Run in a surprise visit. The purpose of their visit is to take her away, and bring her back to the city in order for her to fulfill her dream of owning a café. Tess who has grown fond of Drover’s Run becomes confused at having to choose between following her dream, and wanting to stay at her newfound home with her sister.

Synopsis: After spending months living and working in Drover’s Run, Tess McLeod has become accustomed to life in the farm. Tess has come far from the city girl who once fell of her horse, and left the gate unhooked causing the cattle to run free. She, however, would be reminded of who she once was when two of her closest friends Simon and Briony drop by for a visit unannounced. They’ve come to bring her home to fulfill her dream of owning a café. Claire McLeod is the least pleased with the sudden arrival of her sister’s guests. Her disposition turns for the worse upon learning that the two had come to take away Tess knowing that it had always been her sister’s dream to own a café.   Continue reading...

The surprise visit from Simon and Briony seems to be causing a stir not only on the women of Drover’s Run, but for Alex Ryan as well who got stood up with Tess forgetting about their date. Tess becomes uncomfortable not only for her impending plan of leaving Drover’s Run, but also for having her former boyfriend Simon around. In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, Tess holds a barbecue party with the neighbors to make-up for standing up Alex without having to spend any more time away from her friends. In reality, Tess is confused. Unknown to her and the people around her, she is no longer the city girl who knew nothing about farming. She has become more mature, and has grown fond of tending the farm with her sister. Unfortunately, in her conversations with the women of Drover’s Run not one had asked her to stay not because they want her to leave, but rather they do not want to be a hindrance to her dream.

Having met the neighbors, Simon and Briony realize that they are in a world far from what they are used to especially when the only topic of conversation at the party was about bulls. Briony decides to pump up the party for herself by taking a pill after learning that the closest bar is two hours away, and the nightlife is still not what a city girl would expect. Jodi curious as to what the woman who now seems to be enjoying herself has taken filches a pill from Briony’s bag.

With the neighbors gone, Simon and Tess are left alone in the shed. Seeing that Tess has not completely made-up her mind about leaving Drover’s Run, Simon ties to convince her that she does not belong in the farm. Moreover, that she belongs with him, and not Alex. Already confused, and enticed by the sweet words of her former boyfriend, Tess McLeod makes out with Simon just when Alex Ryan arrives. Furious at what he was seeing, Alex prepares to deliver a blow to the man set on stealing his girlfriend. Tess stops him before he creates any damage, and he restrains himself, but not without making a point that the two should stay away from each other until he and Tess had their talk.

Meanwhile, Briony and Jodi both under a pill have a party of their own. Unaware of the events that transpired in the shed, Briony with her muddled head only made matters worse. Seeing how different she is now from her friends, Tess really feels that she should stay. However, having a talk with her sister, and sensing that Drover’s Run will survive with or without her made her feel that it maybe time to go. All packed and ready to leave, Tess continues to have second thoughts about leaving. Up early in the morning to milk her cow, she notices that the gate had been left open, and all the cattle they had painstakingly mustered for two days are gone. Briony lies outside in a lounge chair asleep completely unaware of what she had done not to mention what her pill had done to Jodi. The furious screaming of Meg Fountain who was convinced that the woman had encouraged her daughter to take the drug unaware that Jodi had helped herself to Briony’s stash wakes the hung-over woman. Meg and Jodi later both learn that the pill that had caused Jodi’s heart to rise, and caused her to throw-up was only due to aspirin that the young woman had mistaken for drugs.

Tess who months before wouldn’t have known the consequences of leaving the gate open now shares the same anger and concern as Claire McLeod at finding that someone had carelessly left it unhooked. Becky urges Claire to ask her sister to stay, but Claire who in all honestly doesn’t want Tess to leave could not bring herself to do so afraid that doing so will curtail her sister’s dream. A steer that had fallen down a ridge incurring fatal injuries not only made clumsy city girl Briony realize the consequences of her carelessness, but also proved that Tess now really belongs at Drover’s Run. Tess takes responsibility for the fallen steer, and takes a rifle to its head in order to end its misery. Seeing how her sister did the dreadful task of having to shoot an animal, Claire McLeod realizes that Tess will do anything that is asked of her even the most terrible task, because it is her job. It appears that Tess’ dream might now have changed, and that running Drover’s Run now seems more important to her than owning a café. Given this realization, Claire McLeod tells Tess that she is needed there, and she asks her to stay, which is the only thing that she wanted to hear.

Tess has finally made her decision. She has found her new home, and that is Drover’s Run. Simon makes his final plea to convince his friend to come with him to the city, but Tess had made up her mind. Simon and Briony after causing a whirlwind finally end their stay, and they leave Drover’s Run for the city without Tess.

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Lover Come Back – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.20

Overview: Claire and Tess McLeod sell the savage bull Loverboy to Nick Ryan. All is well until the bull keeps on returning to Drover’s Run. Also, Tess and Alex are having a lover’s quarrel, and Tess uses her theory on the three levels of why to understand her boyfriend’s behavior. Meanwhile, Jodi Fountain is wrapped in a fantasy with her lover in Italy, and neglects her duties as a farm hand. This annoys Becky Howard so much as to create a rift between her and the Fountain’s. Matters worsen when Meg Fountain puts Claire McLeod in a tight spot after asking her to choose between them and Becky.

Synopsis: Claire McLeod decides to sell Loverboy, a behemoth of a bull, to Nick Ryan and use the money to start building a yard for quarter horse training. On their way to Wilgul, Tess McLeod could not stop talking about her boyfriend’s brute behavior after learning that Alex expects her to do his laundry and fix him a meal, both of which she refuses to do. Alex, on the other hand, is annoyed at how Tess is acting now that they are couple. The two could not be more different from each other with Tess just wanting to spend time talking, and Alex wanting to go outdoors and have some fun. His brother gives him some advice, but knowing that he isn’t in a relationship, and wouldn’t know any better dismisses it. His jaw drops when he learns that Nick had a woman spend a night at Wilgul. Finally, after a bumpy ride with the most savage animal in the planet, Claire and Tess arrive at Wilgul. Tess who is overanalyzing Alex’s behavior is caught up in the three levels of why, and acts awkwardly around her boyfriend. In trying to avoid him, she ends up finding out that Nick is seeing a woman named Angela.  Continue reading...

Though Alberto is back in Italy, Jodi Fountain’s love affair with the Italian boy continues through postcards with sweet correspondence. Becky Howard could not help but be annoyed at her friend’s constant chatter about Alberto, but moreover at Jodi’s lack of effort to help with the chores. Fed up with her friend’s romantic fantasies about the handsome Italian, Becky who had been around the block, and disillusioned by her experiences bluntly tells Jodi that Alberto wouldn’t be seriously interested at an inexperienced farm girl, and that she should start sleeping around to learn that her fantasies are nothing but fantasies. Knowing that she is dealing with an immature, young woman, who surely would run to her mother for some comfort. Becky waits for an outraged confrontation with Meg Fountain, and as she expected the enraged mother comes after her with a snide remark on her morality, and strict instruction to stay away from Jodi.

Claire McLeod is oblivious to the drama at Drover’s Run. She knows better to stay away from the Fountain’s hair especially when she has other things to worry about; one of them is Loverboy. The bull that took great pains to transport found its way back at Drover’s Run. With Claire busy with the quarter horse training, Tess is left to bring the savage bull back to Wilgul. She brings Loverboy back without any problems. All is well until Alex follows her on her way home. Distracted, Tess loses control of the truck when she passes a blind curve causing her to run off-course, and hitting her head on the wheel. A worried Alex comes to her rescue, and becomes relieved at finding her girlfriend just a little shook up, but nonetheless unharmed. His knight in a shining armor moment is cut short when Alex decides to take advantage of Tess’ vulnerability following the accident. Enraged at Alex’ lack of real concern, and overflowing libido, Tess storms off. Alex clueless at the inappropriateness of his actions talks to Nick about what happened. His brother who would have done the same thing except for the part when Alex tries to kiss Tess at her moment of distress could not believe how his brother handled the situation. Claire, on the other hand, after hearing Tess’ story does not see anything wrong with Alex’s actions.

Tess in disbelief at Claire having no problems at all with Alex’s behavior foregoes trying to make her sister see the mistake in his actions. Seeing that mail has arrived, she rushes to attend to the delivery only to witness first-hand Jodi’s annoying princess-like attitude. Craig Woodland replaces Bob as the mailman, and he hands Jodi a letter from Alberto. The young woman, once again, puts aside her responsibility as a station hand to spend time reading her lover’s letter half of which she couldn’t even understand. Tensions rise come supper when all five women gather around the dinner table. Claire, not wanting to come between the feuding women, decides to stay out of it all leaving Tess to handle it alone. She takes this opportunity to test her theory of the three levels of why. The outcome of her experiment is just an even more upset Jodi who storms off with her equally upset mother. She turns to Becky who tells her the irritations of having to listen to Jodi speak of nothing else but Alberto. She tries one more time her theory only to get the same result. Tess could not understand why people refuse her help. She runs to Claire who hears nothing that doesn’t have anything to do with farming. Claire is more interested with the seeds that her sister had recently purchased, and becomes worried after learning that Tess had decided to grow hemp.

The next day, Tess goes about the task of milking Madonna when lo and behold Loverboy has once again found its way back at Drover’s Run. Tess brings Loverboy back to Wilgul where she tries to bill Nick for the trouble of transporting the bull. The arrival of Alex Ryan interrupts their negotiation only to continue their cold behavior around each other. Meanwhile, back at Drover’s Run, Becky and Meg continue their feud with the older woman continuing to spoil her daughter, and condoning Jodi’s laziness. Meg suggests Claire to fire Becky who knowing where her boss’ loyalties lie is sure that she is getting the boot unaware that Claire pays no mind to Meg’s suggestion. Though Claire tells her that she has no intention of firing her, Becky could not stop worrying about having to leave Drover’s Run. Seeing how the feud between the Fountain’s and Becky has blown out of proportion, Claire has very good reason to try avoiding running into any of the feuding women. Meg confirms Claire’s anxiety when she asks her to choose between the two parties sure that their boss will choose them over Becky. Meg is caught by surprise when Claire tells her how much of a help Becky has been, and how Jodi has not been pulling her weight. This upsets Meg causing her to have dinner at the cottage with her daughter instead of joining the other women. Spending the whole evening listening to her daughter talk of nothing else but Alberto, Meg begins to see how much of a pain Jodi really is. With the feuding women deciding to have dinner at their respective houses, Claire and Tess are left to themselves. Claire takes the opportunity to inquire about her sister’s quarrel with Alex, but Tess surprisingly does not want to talk about it, and would rather deal with how to handle the feuding women. A loud thunder followed by heavy rain interrupts their conversation especially with Tess hoping that the rain would not wash off her newly planted seeds. She learns the following morning that all their hard work the previous day was all for naught for the rain that Claire had warned her about had washed away the seeds.

Alex Ryan stumped at what else to do with Tess McLeod seeks advice from his brother. After much coercing, Nick tells him what he thinks would win back Tess’ heart. What Alex doesn’t know is that Nick had truly spoken from the heart. Meanwhile at Drover’s Run, it appears that all but Meg sees that Jodi has been acting irresponsibly with her foregoing her chores. After Loverboy escapes once again, Claire hatches up a plan to solve the feud between the Fountain’s and Becky by forcing them to work together. She and Tess are going to transport the bull back to Wilgul, and help the Ryan’s rebuild the shed it left in shambles, while the three women tend to the grain silo. Just when Becky is close to proving her point with Jodi trying to evade work once again on the account of the dust from the grain ruining her hair, which she just washed in preparation for Miss Gungellan, an old tin crown she finds in the heap of grain makes it clear that the Fountain’s have earned their place at Drover’s Run. The tin crown she learned was a gift from Jack to Jodi, one he made especially for her when she was only seven. It appears that Jack had treated Jodi as if she is his own daughter. At that moment, Becky knew that she had lost, and she goes back to her quarters to pack her things. Little did she know that it is the same tin crown that would make Meg see reason.

Fed up with her daughter, Meg snaps at Jodi who is so wrapped in her own world that the prospect of them having to leave Drover’s Run does not even worry her. Meg finally has a serious talk with Jodi telling her that what she has with Alberto is nothing but a fantasy, and that real relationships take much work. Moreover, she teaches her daughter that friendships are more important than fantasies, and are worth mending. It appears that Claire’s plan had worked not only for the Fountain’s and Becky, but also for Tess and Alex. Tess who sets out to prove herself climbs a scaffolding to install sheets of aluminum wall on the shed. All is well until she looks down, and her vertigo kicks in. Alex concerned for his girlfriend rushes to help her crawl down to safety, and this time doesn’t make the mistake of trying to kiss her. Well, he really has no intention of kissing her given that the woman had just threw up as a result of her dizziness. With the shed fixed, and the lovers back together, the McLeod’s return to Drover’s Run only to find Loverboy back in their farm, but this time they know the reason for his return – a heifer. The sisters return Loverboy to Wilgul, but this time to ensure that he stays put, they bring with them the heifer that was the cause of it all. Not only do they solve the problem, they even make a little money after convincing Nick on paying for the heifer as well. Seeing that Alex and Tess are back together, Nick asks Tess a question, which takes her by surprise. He asks whether Alex is really the one. Tess answers that she doesn’t want to fall truly in love, and when Nick uses her own theory on her and asks why she reacts the same way as everyone else did. She avoids having to answer the question.

Jodi Fountain though immature, and selfish still has the sense to listen to her mother. Their talk made her realize that her fantasy has caused a rift between her and her best friend that when another postcard came from Alberto her reaction has subdued. Moreover, she admits to her mistakes and apologizes to Becky. Becky, on the other hand, learning that Meg was the one who straightened out Jodi thanks her in her own way. Claire McLeod arrives with news about Blaise’s pregnancy telling them that no one is to leave until the mare gives birth. Unaware that the feuding women had already made up, Meg and Becky agreeing to her order surprises Claire who probably is also surprised that her little scheme actually worked.

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The Italian Stallion – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.19

Synopsis: Alberto, a gorgeous Italian young man arrives at Drovers Run. Jodi Fountain attesting that the young Italian saved her life falls deeply in love with him. Unfortunately, her mother, Meg Fountain learns that Alberto is an illegal immigrant, and she advises him to leave. However, the young man suffers from snakebite, and is forced to extend his stay at Drovers Run. The young couple’s feelings for each other grow, and lead to an unexpected plan of marriage.

Episode Summary: Ah, the first sign of success. Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) could not be more pleased at the sight of new sprouts of Canola that they had worked so hard to farm. It was a project she knew would help save Drovers Run from going under. Unfortunately, her hope is just as easily taken away when a herd of Harry Ryan’s cattle tramples over the buds wiping away all the hard work they’ve put into the new endeavor that would have kept Drovers Run afloat. Meanwhile, Jodi Fountain (Rachael Carpani) is oblivious to the problem at hand, and is more concerned with the gorgeous Italian whom she attests saved her life. The truth is, the young man had merely distracted two cows grazing near the bush where Jodi had decided to relieve herself. With more serious concerns on their minds, the women couldn’t care less.  Continue reading...

Claire wastes no time to accost Harry Ryan about his wandering herd. All she got was a quick apology mixed with a hint of insult after she had brought up the topic of interbreeding Killarney’s stallion Wildfire and Drovers Run’s mare Blaise. Having failed after the first attempt, Harry, as always, finds fault on the mare. However, Claire already upset with the man manages to bounce the problem back at the stallion, and uses Killarney’s broken electrical fence to reinforce her argument. With Nick now living in Wilgul, Harry who is not as tech savvy as his son has little patience with fixing their hi-tech equipment. Nick volunteers to take a look, and this pleases his father.

Night has fallen, and Jodi still has not stopped talking about the gorgeous Italian stranger. Left alone at the stalls, she hears a thump. Slowly, with a hook in her hand, she searches for the source of the noise. Much to her surprise, it is the Italian young man, Alberto. Alberto, set to take over his family’s restaurant business in Rome, had decided to go backpacking in Australia before he takes on the responsibility. With not much money left, he has been taking on odd jobs helping out on various farms. Jodi introduces him to the women of Drovers Run hoping that they would take him in. Tired with arguing, Claire agrees to hire the young man. In an attempt to impress Alberto, Jodi uncharacteristically volunteers to wash his dirty clothes. Immature and irresponsible, her mother ends up washing the young man’s dirty laundry, and soon learns his secret.

The following day, Harry and Alex Ryan drop by Drovers Run to confirm that the rogue cattle are theirs. In an effort to elude having to pay for the damaged Canola, Harry uses the failed breeding of his horse as an excuse. Claire, tough in business as her father, argues that he already is lucky given that they had not even charged him for the labor to re-sow the Canola crops.

Unlike Jodi, Alberto wastes no time to make himself useful starting with cleaning out the gutters. Alex, able to smell competition from yards away, immediately notices the young man. The presence of the young man is not the only one he spots as he detects a smell of perfume on an otherwise scentless Claire. The reason for the woman’s sudden urge to put on perfume comes to them in no time with the arrival of Peter Johnson.

With Jodi already planning on ways to keep Alberto, Meg Fountain finds the perfect opportunity to confront the young man about his secret. Alberto had already overstayed his visa, and is therefore an illegal immigrant. With no intention of making matters worse, Meg advises him to leave as soon as possible to save all of them from imminent trouble. Unfortunately, Jodi catches him on his way out. Trying to find reason for his sudden departure, Jodi sits and talks to the young man. Regrettably, a snake crawls its way to the young woman. With only a few inches away from Jodi, Alberto was left with no choice, but to throw away the snake with his bare hands. Jodi finds the snake, and finishes it off with a metal rod. However, Alberto was already bitten, its poison already working its way through his system. So it appears, that Jodi’s wish of keeping the young man has been granted. Though free from life threatening danger, thanks to Meg’s first aid know-how, Alberto needs a bit more time to recuperate. Burning with fever, Jodi volunteers to look after the young man who yet again saved her life.

It seems that Claire’s misfortune becomes Nick’s good luck. Harry always finding ways to save cost decides to keep the cattle in Wilgul instead of transporting them back to Killarney. Nick uses this as an excuse to borrow more of his father’s staff to help with the irrigation to provide the cattle decent feed. Learning where the cattle entered through Drovers Run, Nick informs his friend Claire about his discovery. Apparently, Claire had planted her Canola on an old stock route. Having done so, this gives Harry Ryan the right to drive his livestock through the neighboring farms, which means that he does not have to pay compensation for the damages done on Drovers Run’s crops, it being on the old stock route. Good thing, Nick has more respect for Claire than his father such that he has no intention of informing his father about his discovery.

This is not the only dilemma that Claire McLeod is facing. Having agreed to give the horse breeding at Drovers Run another go, Harry had brought Wildfire back to Drovers Run expecting results in less than no time. Hearing that Claire is pressed for time, Peter volunteers his services to help with the horse breeding. He suggests the use of artificial insemination if the day passes, and traditional breeding still has not worked.

Meanwhile, Meg has problems of her own. Knowing the state of his visa not to mention her daughter’s growing attraction with the Italian boy, and the unexpected delay in his departure, Meg tries to remind the young man of the need for his leaving. Moreover, she attempts to keep her daughter away from the man given that Jodi is already spending too much time caring for Alberto, and is neglecting her chores. However, Jodi has found ways to be with the gorgeous Italian. Seeing the sketches the young Italian drew, Jodi asks the young man to make her portrait. It was then when their innocent flirting goes a step further as Jodi and Alberto kiss.

Love is in the air at Drovers Run, and Cupid has struck an arrow at Claire. Having agreed to take Peter on his offer, she offers him a room at the homestead. Meanwhile, Alberto already feeling better agrees to sketch Jodi’s portrait. Hours pass, and Jodi grows impatient as the young man toils away with his drawing. She falls asleep on his bed, but still a gentleman he does not take advantage. Jodi sneaks back to their house, but is caught by her mother. Feeling that her daughter has fallen deeply in love with Alberto, Meg finds no other choice, but to tell her the truth that the young man is an illegal immigrant. There is no future with the two of them given that he would soon have to leave.

There is, however, still hope for Claire McLeod. Unable to sleep, she walks down to the kitchen to find comfort in a tub of ice cream. Much to her surprise, she finds Peter sitting in the dark. The two got to talk, and soon learns that they have many things in common. Both love the country, and find it weird that the city folks feel lonely with having only the view of a big open sky. Peter warms up to Claire, and decides to share an ice cream with her; taking a spoonful of vanilla that the woman had offered.

Alex having also spent the night at Drovers Run checks up on the other man of the house – Peter Johnson. Men, always finding time to boast, the two starts taunting each other with Peter having the last say after mocking Killarney’s stallion Wildfire who appears to be unable to perform. Alex makes nothing of it, and runs downstairs to give Claire the payment for the damages to their Canola. Claire knowing full well about the stock route, and how that gives Harry an excuse not to pay compensation for the ruined crops finds herself unable to accept the payment. Luckily, Tess takes the check before Alex could even suspect anything.

Meanwhile, Jodi finds her portrait that Alberto drew, and a letter along with it. The young Italian had decided to leave. With her heart broken, she confronts her mother blaming her for the young man’s decision. On horseback, Jodi finds Alberto walking down the dirt road. The young man tells her the reason for his departure, and his unwillingness to go back to Italy. Not wanting to drag the women of Drovers Run into trouble, he found it best to leave given that he has every intention on overstaying in Australia. He confesses the real reason for his extended stay. Being an Italian young man of age, he is to serve the army for a year. It is a task that he best wants to avoid given his detest at having to take another man’s life for a battle he does not want to fight. Jodi finds a solution to his problem. She suggests that they get married. Convinced that they are indeed in love with each other, the two confronts Meg with the news.

Meg informs the other women about her daughter’s crazy idea, and Claire becomes the unlikely person who does not appear to object as she too has fallen to love’s foolish ways; putting on perfume and make-up, which she would otherwise not do if Peter were not around. Having run out of ideas to dissuade her daughter from making the biggest mistake of her life, Meg allows Tess to step in before it is too late given that Jodi and Alberto has already been calling ministers to officiate their marriage. Luckily, there aren’t any ministers in their right minds that would preside over a quick, and dirty ceremony, but they haven’t lost hope. The tables turn as Tess tries to put some sense into the young woman. Jodi appears to truly have fallen in love with the Italian boy despite having only met him a day before. The young woman’s justification of taking the leap of faith for a love she feels to be genuinely real makes Tess ponder about her relationship with Alex. With no one else to turn to, Meg asks the last person she would ask for help, but also maybe the only person her daughter would listen to – Becky Howard.

Meg’s problem with her daughter is the least of Claire McLeod’s concerns. Moreover, she appears to rather spend time with Peter who had yet another suggestion about the horse breeding problems she’s been having. His plan is to introduce a new, feisty mare. His theory is that stallions prefer a more submissive mare. Given two choices, Wildfire would soon appreciate the quiet, submissive mare, Blaise having been turned off by the rather feisty one.

While all are busy with work, Becky sets out to learn if Alberto is the nightmare Meg fears him to be. She invites him to her room under the pretense of him having to fix her broken refrigerator. Having sent Jodi away to check the fences, Becky’s plan is to seduce Alberto to find out if he is only using the young woman to avoid getting deported. Unfortunately for her, Jodi comes across Claire who tells her that the fences do not need mending. Meanwhile, at the shearer’s quarters Becky makes her move, but first she tells Alberto to remove his shirt with an excuse that Meg would throw a fit if he’d soil it with grease. She moves closer, and makes it known that he’d be better off with her given that Meg would not allow him to marry her daughter, which means he would not get his papers. Alberto pushes Becky away, making it clear to her that he is marrying Jodi for love. Still half-naked he steps out of Becky’s room. Unfortunately, Jodi sees him leave Becky’s room while still putting on his shirt with the young woman right behind him. Distraught with the wrong she thought that was done to her, Jodi Fountain calls the Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs to report Alberto.

Tess Silverman (Bridie Carter), brought about by her previous conversation with Jodi, appears to have second thoughts with her relationship with Alex. Her pondering leads her to Nick Ryan, who obviously is the one whom she really loves, but somehow could not bring herself to admit. She realizes how different the two brothers are, but Nick tells her that both of them actually share the same goals only they take different routes. Luckily, Wildfire and Blaise who seem to have the same problem have overcome their obstacle. Claire and Peter walk back to the paddock with the feisty mare in tow only to learn that there is no need for it. The two horses have finally done it. As the two ponder what made the horses change their minds, the reasons appear to apply to them as well. Claire reckons that the two horses liked each other all along with the mare playing too hard to get than she really was, while the stallion was overly careful not to come across as too macho.

With Tess already having doubts with her relationship with Alex, finding the bathroom in complete disarray, and learning that it was her boyfriend, and not Peter who caused the mess just added more to her misgivings. Meanwhile, Becky who is unaware of what Jodi saw runs to pay a visit to her friend to give her the good news only to learn that the young woman saw Alberto leaving her room. She explains that it was all a test to find out whether the young Italian was only using her in order to avoid deportation. In addition, she makes it known that Alberto truly loves Jodi. Jodi’s delight at learning how the young man had fallen deeply in love with her is short-lived. She realizes the huge mistake she had done having reported him to immigration services. Jodi wastes no time to confess the terrible thing she had done, and urges Alberto to run away with her. However, the young man disagrees. Alberto had already put some thought to their situation, and has decided to do the right thing. That is, accept the consequences of his illegal stay, fly back to Italy, and do his duty to his country. With the legalities squared away, he vows to return to be together with Jodi, and live free of worry and fear.

Soon after, the police arrive to take Alberto away. He goes with them with full submission. Meg realizing that the young man feels genuinely for her daughter apologizes to him. Jodi says her final goodbye with Alberto promising to write to her everyday. Full of guilt for having turned the man she was to marry to immigration, Jodi apologizes, but Alberto tells her that there is nothing to forgive. To the young Italian, she did it all out of love. With a final kiss, the police drives Alberto away as Jodi tears in her eyes painfully watch.

Peter, too, leaves, since the work he came to help with is done. However, what is blossoming between him and Claire has yet to develop. Meanwhile, having learned that the horse-breeding task was a success, Harry drops by to pick-up his stallion. Claire takes the opportunity to return the check to him without divulging the stock route discovery, and instead using her disinterest at growing crops as an excuse. However, Harry pleased with the breeding decides to let her keep the check, and even suggests that if all goes well with their horses’ first foal that they must take upon the same task all over again. Meanwhile, Tess realizing what a submissive fool she has been; cleaning up after Alex, and meekly following his every request, decides to put her foot down by handing his boyfriend’s dirty laundry, which she would have washed herself. Meg, on the other hand, with her problems solved with a quick deportation could not be more relieved at her daughter’s misfortune. She comforts her hopeful daughter with a bowl of ice cream knowing that it will take no time before Jodi forgets about Alberto.

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More Than One Way – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.18

Synopsis: Claire McLeod prepares for the campdrafting competition that would decide who Australian Bloodlines would grant the quarter horse-breeding contract to. However, she becomes distracted with jealousy over her sister’s newfound relationship with her best mate Alex Ryan who by the way is also her competitor. Meanwhile, Jodi Fountain decides to apply for a nomination to the Ms. Gungellan quest.

Episode Summary: Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) is up early, hard at work preparing for Australian Bloodlines’ trainer selection. She is up against Alex Ryan who is still in bed with Tess. This upsets Claire more than one way with the real reason being her jealousy at her sister’s relationship with her best mate, Alex. Though Claire would not be caught with an admission of guilt, Tess had sensed that her newfound relationship with Alex might have caused her sister to hand her a check that would jumpstart her dream café in the city. Seeing Tess and Alex together upsets Claire more and more that she no longer masks her intention of getting rid of her sister. She uses Tess’ dream café as a viable reason for her to leave Drovers Run, and adds that she can manage running it and fulfilling her own dream of setting up a horse breeding program without her help. Continue reading...

The contract with Australian Bloodlines is the first step to reaching Claire’s dream. Unfortunately for her, the person assigned to select the trainer is Peter Johnson (Rodger Corser). Claire McLeod first met Peter at an AI conference in Fisher, and their first meeting was not what one would call cordial. The beginning of their second is not pleasant either. Claire recognizing the man as the one she had trouble with months back, lashes at him thinking that he has come to collect payment for damages made on his car. She had to swallow her embarrassment upon learning that Peter is Australian Bloodlines’ assessor.

Alex Ryan who once again is spending the night with Tess could not help but roll with laughter upon hearing about the incident with Claire and Peter. It was a stunt that Alex pulled with him knowing full well who the assessor is, and not saying a word to his competition. Still not admitting that Claire is the better trainer, he argues that his little ploy was necessary to level the playing field given that a woman could use her charms to trick a man into handing a contract to a broad. Alex’ laughter fills the otherwise silent house. Already annoyed at having to hear the frolicking couple, Claire marches up the stairs riled. To add to her annoyance, she finds that the man had once again broken the light switch. Standing right in front of her sister’s bedroom door as it opens, Claire tries to avoid being caught eavesdropping on her sister and her boyfriend. She quickly takes two steps back, and slips down the staircase. With a seriously busted knee, Alex had to carry Claire to her bed -- her annoyance now at full swing.

Alex returns to Killarney with news of Claire’s injury. This pleases Harry Ryan, which disgusts Alex who despite his previous antic wants to win the quarter horse breeding contract fair and square. Harry believes that Australian Bloodlines handing the contract to Killarney might help convince Claire to merge Drovers Run with their property. This is the least of Liz Ryan’s concerns. Keeping up with the pretense of Wilgul being part of the Ryan’s empire, Nick has decided to work on developing the property full-time with him moving out of Killarney. This saddens his mother who hates to see him go, and seeing Tess and Alex’ developing relationship dampens her mood even more.

With Claire recuperating from her knee injury, Jodi is left to train Blaise, while Tess tries to help out her sister the only way she can – exhaust Alex Ryan’s energy. Tess has a lot to learn about country boys. The women of Drovers Run watch as Alex Ryan campdraft at his best. Tess Silverman (Bridie Carter) who had convinced herself that their relentless lovemaking the night before would have drained all of the man’s energy watches in disbelief as Alex works the cattle without breaking a sweat. Seeing her competitor’s superb performance, injured Claire has lost hope at winning the contract.

Meanwhile, Meg and Jodi Fountain (Rachael Carpani) busy themselves with the Ms. Gungellan interview with Liz Ryan. Meg is on her hands and knees making the homestead sparkly clean for the arrival of Mrs. Ryan. Jodi, on the other hand, is at the cottage trying on various dresses to wear for her interview. Much to her surprise, Liz arrives early, and holds the interview at the disorderly cottage. Imagine Meg’s surprise when she comes running to the cottage with rubber gloves still on, and sees that the talk was already on its way. Clearly disappointed at blowing off the chance of becoming Ms. Gungellan, Jodi tries her very best to show that she couldn’t care less about the quest.

Convinced that Claire McLeod could prove that she is the better trainer if only given the chance, Tess comes up with another plan. She invites Peter Johnson to Drovers Run for dinner. Taking on Alex’ concern on losing the contract over a woman’s show of cleavage, and batting eyelashes, Tess plans on impressing Peter with their sensuality enough for him to grant Claire enough time to recuperate from her injury. With her dream on the line, Claire McLeod goes along with her sister’s crazy plan. Drovers Run’s power outage added more to the night’s allure not that it needed more as the sight of Claire in a plunging, little black dress was enough to make the man’s jaw drop. However, their first meeting remains burned in Peter Johnson’s mind. The tension between the two had once again tightened at the remembrance of Claire’s disparagement of him at the conference at Fisher. The dinner would have been a failure if Tess had not brought up Claire’s first horse training experience.

Tess tends to the dishes, and leaves her sister to tell Peter about how she trained her father’s horse Calypso when she was just thirteen. Young as then, Claire knew a lot about training horses than most people. Even then, she already was against the use of ropes, and the harsh treatment that comes with breaking-in a wild horse. With much genuine passion, Claire tells Peter the strategy she used for the horse whose personality she understood so well. Calypso, the gorgeous, temperamental, chestnut mare, gradually warmed up to Claire unable to stand how she pretended to ignore her, and the piece of apple she had in her hand. The story appeared to have made Peter see Claire on a different light, and the tension between them seemed to have magically disappeared.

With Claire McLeod’s severely injured knee, she is clearly unfit to ride a horse. She swallows up her pride, and asks Peter Johnson if Jodi could ride in her place. Unfortunately, his instructions are to watch the horse with its trainer, and a substitute would just not be right. Leave it to Alex Ryan to help convince the man to bend the rules a bit for Claire. Alex may be competitive, but it is not in his nature to win a lop-sided battle. And so, Jodi Fountain saddles up to ride with Blaise, and win for Claire the quarter horse breeding contract with Australian Bloodlines. Jodi gets off on a good start, but her inexperience and nerves get the better of her when she loses control of the beast.

Knowing the unmistakable advantage they have over the McLeod’s, Liz Ryan has already prepared a small celebration at Killarney. The women of Drovers Run, except for Jodi, tries very hard to put up a face despite the undeniable dissatisfaction at having lost the contract. Liz finds Jodi in tears. After noticing how Meg and Harry have been putting in the good word on the young woman to convince her to give Jodi a spot at the pageant, Liz mistakes her grief as a result of having lost a spot in the Ms. Gungellan quest. It was Becky, by the way, who had tried to talk Harry into endorsing Jodi to his wife. Liz is pleasantly surprised upon learning that her lament comes from her unsatisfactory performance that cost the horse-breeding contract with Drovers Run and Australian Bloodlines. Jodi knows how much that meant to Claire. Liz Ryan sees new light on the person whom she thought to be a sweet, but shallow young woman. Given this, she wastes no time to announce that she accepts Jodi Fountain’s nomination to compete for the crown of Ms. Gungellan.

The women of Drovers Run return home both triumphant and defeated. Claire McLeod finds comfort with the company of her horse, Blaise. Peter Johnson drops by, and finds her exactly where he knows she would be, at the stables by her prized mare. He brings with him a bottle of wine, and the surprising announcement of granting her Australian Bloodlines’ training contract. Somehow, Peter Johnson finds Claire McLeod to be the better trainer despite not being able to ride. Claire, in disbelief, gladly accepts the good news, and the bottle of wine. She finds her sister to share with her the news only to find her struggling with the power box after Drovers Run has once again experiences a power outage. Before Claire could utter a single word, Tess tells her of the decision she made, which is to put her money back to Drovers Run. Claire accepts without any arguments, and without further ado lets it known that she was granted the contract. The sisters laugh upon realizing that the show of cleavage really worked to their advantage.

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Girls Night Out – McLeod’s Daughters Episode Summary 1.17

Synopsis: The girls go for a night out on the town to celebrate the profit they received from the sale of undernourished sheep that Claire McLeod bought months ago. However, the night of celebration turns to a night of entrapment as the girls decide to trap Brian Cronin into catching him in the act. This, after learning that Becky Howard’s replacement had suffered the same fate as hers. Meg Fountain steps up to the plate to become the man’s next victim who would finally put him behind bars.

Episode Summary: Claire McLeod’s gamble at buying a flock of undernourished sheep finally paid off, and what better way to celebrate but to have a girls’ night out at Gungellan. Unfortunately, the solitary Chinese restaurant in town is closed, since the owner’s wife has gone into labor. This leaves the girls with no other choice, but the pub. Becky Howard (Jessica Napier) does not seem to mind, and she leads the pack to Brian Cronin’s establishment where Tess McLeod somehow manages to drag Claire up the stage to sing karaoke. While the two belch out a song, Jodi Fountain is outside by the Ute putting on lipstick when she sees Kimmy trying to push Brian away. Given what she already knows about Brian, there is no doubt in her mind that the poor girl has suffered the same fate as her friend. At a chance meeting at the ladies room, she tries to confront the young woman about her predicament, but terrified Kimmy brushes her off. This leads Jodi to turn to Becky. Continue reading...

Meanwhile, Alex Ryan is having a hard time trying to placate his furious father after learning that somebody had snatched Wilgul from under him. They were in for a much bigger surprise when Nick Ryan admits that he is the one who bought the farm. He made the announcement under the false pretense of making the sale for his father; making them believe that it will be part of Killarney. The truth, which only Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) knows is that he had bought the farm with his own money; he only said otherwise in order to get full use of Killarney’s machinery, and services while he cleans up the farm.

Becky Howard tries to convince Kimmy to come out in the open about the violation done to her, but fails when the young woman reminds her that she herself did not do anything to stop the man from committing the same crime all over again. Furious at herself, Becky boldly confronts her attacker, but he is once again successful at scaring her to silence when he threatens her brother Seany’s life given that he now works for him. Hitting a wall, leave it to Tess McLeod (Bridie Carter) to come up with a plan, which is to catch Brian in the act. The first hurdle to overcome is convincing her sister Claire to stay the night on the town. Luckily, the woman is in too good a mood that she agrees. In fact, she even lets her sister dress her up in real woman’s clothes. Trading her plaid shirt, and blue jeans for a dress, Claire McLeod could not believe her eyes at the sight of herself. Tess makes her way down to the pub as Claire having asked for a minute alone takes time to breathe in the new her. By the time Claire arrives at the pub, Tess and Alex are already having fun dancing with each other leaving her unnoticed. Feeling foolish for wearing a dress in the hopes of attracting Alex’ attention, she rushes back to the room to change.

Claire returns to the pub wearing her old manly clothes surprising Tess at her change of heart, but it was Tess’ divulging their plan to catch Brian in the act that proved to be a bigger surprise for Claire and Meg who knew nothing of the plot. Becky rushes out the pub when Claire finds their plan ridiculous. Furious, and feeling hopeless at getting the chance to show the real creep that Brian Cronin really is, Becky rushes outside. Realizing how much putting the man behind bars meant to the young woman, Claire joins in with the plan. The girls night out turns from a simple dinner to an entrapment. Meg Fountain volunteers to be the next victim given that Brian had already made a pass at her not too long ago. In addition, among the Drovers Run women, it is she whom he would least suspect.

With their strategies in place, the women return to rejoin their men who had already finished their dinner. Meg, on the other hand, has already put their trap in motion. She starts flirting with Brian, and makes it known to him that her relationship with Terry has turned a bit unsteady. Learning from Becky that the man likes to play protector, Meg tries to make him believe that she is a damsel in distress, but she fails miserably especially when Terry shows up. In addition, two drunken men at the bar had started arguing, and Brian had to break up the fight. Hours later, when the man still has not made his move, Meg puts herself in the line when she intentionally puts herself in the middle of two dueling drunks in the hope that Brian would come to her rescue. Ignorant to the plan, Alex and Nick try to come to Meg’s aid, but Tess distracts them by pretending to have poked her eye with a cue. Though successful at keeping the two brothers from breaking up the fight, Terry comes out of nowhere, and breaks up the fight before Brian even arrives. With all their tricks failing, the girls are ready to throw in the towel, but not Meg who despite suffering from a headache, thanks to the Scotch she’s been gulping all evening, she is determined to nail the man to the wall.

With Meg’s instruction, the women return to the pub to try and have some fun lest their prey catch on their trap. Seeing that all the girls but Meg are at the pub watching Jodi as she sings karaoke, Brian sees the perfect opportunity. On her way out of her room after taking pills for her headache, Meg is surprised to see Brian standing outside her door. So, it appears that the man had understood the signals the woman had been sending out all evening, and was only finding for the perfect opportunity to take action. He lets himself inside the room, and closes the door behind him. Seeing that Meg had only led him on, and realizing that all her flirting was only part of a stunt, Brian shows his true colors. He walks dangerously close to Meg, and grabs her wrist in a way that the woman could not escape what he is about to do. Fortunately, the other girls have realized that both Meg and Brian are gone from the pub, and they rush to the room. Meg knees Brian at his privates, and he falls on the bed with a groan, while Meg unlocks the door as the girls try to break it down.

It was all the proof they will need, his attempted rape at Meg, Kimmy and Becky’s testimony should give the constable enough grounds for a trial. However, Becky realizes that all the police would really need is her statement, and after months of cowardice, she finally sums up the courage to report the violation done to her. Their stunt though was not a clear-cut success proved to be enough to scare Brian out of their town. The man makes the announcement of moving his family to Fisher to care of his ailing mother. Although all the townsfolk believed his cock and bull excuse, the Ryan brothers knew better, especially after seeing Claire’s reaction, and the girls’ unusual behavior that night. However, she owes it to Becky not to spill the beans even to their best mates, and they leave it as that.

Later that night, Becky and Kimmy walk to the police station together they find the courage to let the truth be known. That way, justice will be served, and no other girl would suffer the same fate they had on Brian’s hands. The events of the night have taken its toll on the other women of Drovers Run, Meg is lucky enough to have Terry by her side to provide her the protection and comfort at times like these. Meanwhile, Tess seems to have found the same in Alex much to Claire and Nick’s chagrin. The two who have tried every way to ignore the feelings they have for the ones they truly love deserve the results of passing on a chance. Nick and Claire sulk at the bar to drown their sorrows with beer. Getting the hint that their siblings are spending the night with each other, the two prepares for a long, cold night with a basket of chips and beer. While the two are upstairs enjoying the night, the other two are downstairs covering up their misery with talk about animal husbandry.

Morning came, and it is a new day. Frisky Alex and Tess, step out of the Gungellan Hotel with no attempt at masking what the night brought them. Nick and Claire watch them with contained annoyance, and jealousy, but all that is gone at the sight of Constable Cook escorting Brian Cronin to the police station. The day has finally come when justice is not far from Becky’s reach. The women return to Drovers Run with a bittersweet victory. It is indeed bittersweet for Tess after her sister hands her half the profit of the sheep sales. It was a gesture that at face value screams you truly are part owner of this farm, and that she should stay, but Claire’s remark of her not wanting to hold her back on her dreams of owning the café she so longed for tells her otherwise.

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Playing to Win – McLeod's Daughters Episode Summary 1.16

Synopsis: Claire McLeod joins the late Max Martin’s annual hay bale race, and wins over undefeated champion Alex Ryan. Meanwhile, Harry Ryan who worries of his own demise after the sudden death of their healthy neighbor Max makes it his mission to seize the day, and do as much work as he could in Killarney. Unfortunately, in his zeal, Harry meets an accident, and becomes stuck under a heavy tractor. This ordeal opened a can of worms as his wife Liz Ryan divulged to Tess McLeod the truth about Nick’s rodeo accident. Meanwhile, Meg Fountain breaks off her relationship with Terry Dodge after finding the prized rooster she inherited from Max dead.

Episode Summary: Max Martin was a man who neither smoked nor had a sip of alcohol, which is why his sudden death was a bit of a shock to the whole neighborhood. Everybody turned up at his funeral including Harry Ryan (Marshall Napier) who given the recent event had started worrying about his own demise. Meanwhile, Jodi Fountain’s concern is whether the annual hay bale race that benefits the Miss Gungellan quest would be canceled given the death of Max Martin who was the person who founded it. It is a race whose beginnings is rooted from an actual incident where the men in the neighborhood came together to help Max transport a thousand bales under the pouring rain. Soon after that, the men spurred on by their bravado had started arguing who carried the most bales, and so the conception of the hay bale race where men would run from the bottom paddock to the top, and back again carrying a heavy bale of hay. Continue reading...

The day of the race has arrived, and Tess McLeod (Bridie Carter) has a plan. Annoyed with the undefeated winner Alex’ chauvinist remark about how women should not even bother joining the race, Tess schemed with the other women to prove him wrong. Her plan is for her sister, who still had joined the race despite having no chance of winning it, to carry a hollowed out bale of hay. Now, knowing that righteous Claire would not approve of cheating, their only obstacle is getting the tampered bale into the mix, and leaving it to chance that her sister would be the one who would pick it. To increase the chances of Claire choosing the light bale, the women would have to put it way at the back given that she would probably be the last person who’d reach the top of the paddock. With that plan squared away, the only thing they have to do is to replace one of the heavy bales with the hollow one passed Craig Woodland who was tasked to look after the pick-up point. Luckily, the young man is fond of Jodi who now has the unfortunate job of distracting him so that Becky and Tess could sneak in the fake bale unnoticed.

The race has started, but Jodi is still unsuccessful at luring Craig away from the pick-up point. With the runners fast approaching, Jodi is left with no other choice, but to flash her boobs at the young man. To her embarrassment, she ends up just flashing her undershirt, but it was good enough as Tess and Becky managed to successfully replace one of the heavy bales with the light one. Soon after, the runners arrive, and just as they planned Claire who was the last person who turned up picked the hollowed out bale. She runs past the other runners, and then past Alex Ryan who struggles to catch up with her. Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) wins the race. Alex calls her a cheat, and Nick who suspected what the women were up to earlier on picks up Claire’s bale as if it weighed a ton.

Meanwhile, Harry Ryan who has come to the alarming realization that life is too short busies himself with unfinished work on Killarney. Unfortunately, his zeal turned against him as he now finds himself stuck under a heavy tractor. With everybody out watching the race, and his satellite phone inches away from his grasp, he is left with no other choice, but to wait for someone to find him by accident. Luckily, the McLeod’s has returned from the race, and are out and about checking fences. The two sisters spot the upturned tractor, and finds Harry lying underneath it. With the satellite phone busted, Tess McLeod rides to Killarney to get help, while Claire stays with the injured man. Thanks to Tess, the Ryan brothers with Terry soon arrive. When the three are busy trying to find a way to lift the tractor, Harry tells his son Alex that he will get Killarney if he somehow does not survive the ordeal. However, later when only Nick and Claire are present, he changes his mind. With Claire as his witness, he tells them that he wants both sons to get Killarney. Meanwhile, Tess is still in the house with Liz who appears to be so distraught, and is on the verge of losing her mind. The recent incident reminded her of the past when Nick had his accident. She inadvertently tells Tess that Harry could have prevented the accident, since somebody from the rodeo had called to inform him that his under-aged sons had signed-up for the bull riding competition. In fact, he could have told the rodeo that his sons did not have his permission, but Harry who wanted to teach his sons a lesson decided to see for themselves the consequences of their actions. However, it was a lesson that the Ryan’s painfully learned, and where all of them had to suffer especially Nick who almost lost his life.

Harry’s condition worsens, and he loses consciousness. Luckily, Terry arrives with the tractor, and Alex in his chopper with the doctor. The physician informs them that Harry is only suffering from a broken leg, and a deflated lung due to a broken rib -- all of which are not fatal. Upon receiving the call updating her that Harry is out of danger, Liz Ryan regains her composure, and warns Tess to keep their previous conversation among themselves. Tess agrees, and drives Liz to the scene of the accident where the paramedics have arrived, and are preparing to bring him to the hospital.

It is not only Liz who was reminded of a terrible past incident, as Claire too had painfully recalled the time his father suffered a heart attack, and she was not there to come to his aid. Tess finds her by their father’s grave where she tells to her sister the truth about the rodeo accident. Claire McLeod is in utter disbelief to learn that Harry Ryan was really to blame for Nick’s accident, and not Alex. Having promised Liz Ryan to keep the secret between them, Tess begs her sister not to let the Ryan brothers learn of the despicable truth, but Claire believes that Alex who has been taking the blame all these years has the right to know. She rushes to Killarney when she meets Alex by the road. However, seeing that the ordeal had softened his heart in a way that Alex now sees his father at a better light, Claire could not bring herself to divulge to him the awful truth.

Meanwhile, news about Max Martin leaving Meg Fountain his prized rooster came buzzing around town. The reason why the man would name her in his will escapes them, but everybody has their own theory. One of which, is that Meg had an affair with the man. Having heard the gossip about his lover, Terry Dodge becomes upset, and confronts Meg in an attempt to confirm the rumors. However, Meg has become equally upset at him for his lack of trust. Her fury reaches its height when she finds the prized rooster lying dead on the veggie patch. After hearing Terry threaten the rooster after it attacked him on his last visit to Meg, she is convinced that only he could do such a thing. Wasting no time, Meg arranges to meet Terry by the fence that divides Killarney from Drovers Run, and accuses him of taking his jealous rage on a poor defenseless rooster. Terry denies killing the rooster, which by the way attacked him first, but Meg hears nothing of it, and she breaks off her relationship with him. The poor man tries to woo her back, but she is unyielding given her utter dislike at his dishonesty. However, Jodi made her realize that Terry might just be telling the truth, and she was right. The person who strangled the prized rooster is in fact Max Martin’s widow -- Beth. Outraged at the rumors she heard about Meg having a fling with her husband, Beth confessed to taking out her rage at the poor animal. Meg makes it clear to the jealous, grieving widow that she did not have an affair with Max, and that the only probable reason why he left him the rooster is because she at one point had helped him choose the winning numbers for the chook raffle. Max Martin never won anything aside from the frozen chook he won at the raffle, and the blue ribbons for his prized rooster. Meg reckons that Max had never forgotten that one time she had helped him win that the man had generously decided to leave her something. With the real chook killer unmasked, Meg and Terry are back together, and what better way to celebrate, but to have the dead rooster for dinner. Terry squirms in disgust upon learning this, but Meg laughs as she tells him that it’s really rabbit.

With Harry Ryan back in Killarney, Claire McLeod forces her sister to do what good neighbors are supposed to. Tess who after learning of the man’s secret hesitantly accompanies her sister to visit Harry. Claire is reminded all too soon what a bastard Harry Ryan is. This when Harry tells her that he had once again changed his mind, and has decided to revert back to his original plan to leave all of Killarney only to Alex. Acting like a good friend, Claire confronts Nick of the news that his father is not keeping his word, and that he once again is not leaving him half of Killarney. This is devastating news for Nick who has changed his plans of going out on his own to help run his family’s farm. Apparently, his father knew of the job that was offered to him. Harry only told Nick that he would inherit part of Killarney to keep him from leaving. Embarrassed at having been fooled by his own father, Nick assures Claire that his father’s plan is what it should be. However, his actions proved otherwise. Thanks to his friend, Nick once again takes control of his life, since he sure cannot count on his father’s inheritance. He leaves Killarney for the city to take care of some business.

Learning the lies, and the family problems the Ryan’s face, Claire comes to a realization that the McLeods are a lot better than other people. She confesses to her sister of her outrage at finding out that their father had left half of Drovers Run to Tess who has not set foot, and had nothing to do with the farm for years. However, now she understands that her father’s wish is fair and just. Given this insight, Claire pulls out the ill-gotten trophy she won from the hay bale race, and puts it alongside the other trophies she rightfully won. She reckons that cheating at a silly game does not amount to the devious things other people have done.

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If the Boot Fits – McLeod’s Daughter’s Episode 1.15

Synopsis: Claire McLeod goes to an AI seminar about horse insemination in Fisher, leaving her sister Tess McLeod in charge. Unfortunately, the women including the dog Roy have difficulty taking orders from her especially when she begins to push them hard in attempt to prove that she is boss. Meanwhile, Claire too is having a rough day that started with her bad encounter with Peter Johnson whose car she ran into. However, their worries are nothing compared to Becky Howard’s family trouble. She just learned that one of her troublemaker brothers is out and about, and this time he has influenced their younger brother to be a part of his transgression.

Episode Summary: Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappelle) is packing her things or rather dumping her clothes in a suitcase. She is off to an AI seminar about horse insemination in Fisher, which means that Tess will be in charge while she is away. With Claire telling her to just sit back and relax once the basic work is done, Tess McLeod (Bridie Carter) could not help but wonder about her sister’s lack of confidence on her. This all changes when Claire surprises her with a new pair of proper work boots. With her new boots on, Tess tries to fill in Claire’s rather large ones. Unfortunately, the other women, and even the dog Roy are not yet ready to take orders from her.  Continue reading...

And so, Claire leaves with Alex to Fisher, and has the misfortune of having to listen to loud, rock music. With him driving, she is left with nothing else to do, but tolerate the loud music. Fortunately, she gets her chance to take control when Alex stops to take a leak. With him a couple of feet away from his Ute, Claire takes the opportunity to change the music, and run to the driver’s seat. He runs to stop her, but was too late. Following the rule he made earlier, he is stuck with pop music for the rest of the trip.

Meanwhile, Becky Howard (Jessica Napier) rides with one-armed Bob the Postie to Gungellan to pick-up the Ute from the shop. Though known to take his time, he appears a little edgy, and conscious about delays. Apparently, he is scheduled for a performance review, and Becky worries that she had made him late for it. However, this could be the least of her worries when they come across her troublemaker brother Mark with their younger brother Seany who had skipped school to work for his brother.

Tess tries to act more like she is in charge, but meeting the staff while she soaks her new boots in water, a technique she learned from Bob makes her look a lot less like a boss. Having learned of the flyblown ewes, she convinces the women to take on that problem despite their unwillingness. Though against her wishes, Jodi accompanies Tess on her mission, and encounters a stubborn, lazy sheep stuck in the mud. With very little help from her reluctant worker, she ends up knee-deep in mud, and single-handedly pushing the sheep out of it. Tess needs a lot more work in commanding respect, and Roy obeying Jodi instead of her gives an embarrassing blow to her ego. She confronts Jodi about her hesitant attitude, but does not get through to her. The young woman takes a break, and leaves her to start the dagging alone. Tess ends up poisoning her right eye when she slips from the mud, while holding the cotton ball soaked with the solution. Fortunately, reliable Meg is there to help her wash off the poison from her eye. Tess realizes that she should have waited for Claire, and is grateful to Meg for not saying so. Unfortunately, Meg’s tolerance had run out when the sheep ended up in her veggie patch. This after Tess panicked, and ran to the house without locking the pen.

Claire and Alex finally arrive in Fisher, and already she causes trouble. While backing up in a rather spacious parking slot, Claire manages to hit the door of a parked Ute as the driver gets off his car. It wasn’t a good start to a conference as she gets in an argument with the man whom she refers to as a knob. Imagine her shock when she learns that he is the one giving the seminar that she was enthusiastic about. So eager that she even headed to sit on front row seats. Now, it seems that sitting way in front was a bad idea, but there’s no turning back especially since all the other seats are already taken. What she once considered as an interesting seminar turns sour when she runs into another argument with the speaker, Peter Johnson. Peter mistakes Claire’s comment about AI causing a cash flow problem as a declaration that her property is struggling. Insulted, Claire feels more, and more apprehension towards the man who calls himself an expert in the field. The man retaliates with a remark that without a doubt annoys her. Peter made the assumption that Alex is her husband, and him not correcting his mistake added more fire to her already burning head. Claire’s annoyance spills over to Alex when she seems him chatting with the knob who implied that she could not drive, nearly accused her of bankruptcy, and worst of all that she is married to Alex. He could not help, but enjoy seeing Claire irritated especially when she learns that he still has not corrected the man’s false assumption. Truth of the matter, she could not bring herself to confront the man just to straighten the simple mistake.

Knowing what Becky’s brothers are capable of, Bob begins to worry when they see their truck speeding towards an empty farm. Becky makes nothing of it, and is just too happy that his brother has managed to get a job in spite of his delinquent behavior. Meanwhile, she learns that Bob takes his work seriously despite his disinclined attitude. The truth is, he cares a lot about his clients than most people realize. This she discovers when she finds him reading a letter to a customer who had recently lost his sight. He is not just a postman to him as he acts more like a caring friend.

Meanwhile, at Drovers Run, the women managed to herd the sheep back to the pen, and Tess is relieved. Her relief is short-lived when she learns that she should have counted them after the first muster. This angers Meg, since now they are unsure as to whether they got the whole flock back. Tess’ errors had given them more reason to disobey her orders. Feeling the heat, she decides to confront the women, and put her foot down. She believes that she has finally commanded respect, as they help her with the dagging. What she does not know is that they only did so to appease her. In fact, despite knowing that wearing her new boots too long would put a strain on her feet, as already marked by her limping, the women nevertheless do not to say a word. The dagging commences, and not long after turns for the worse when Jodi cuts her hand so deep that it requires stitches.

On their way to their next mail drop-off, Bob and Becky spot Mark’s truck speeding through the road for a second time. Suspicious, he asks her as to what sort of job her brothers are working on. His suspicions are confirmed when they learn that the creek has been poisoned. One of the farms already has cattle that have fallen victim to this. Becky urges Bob to drive her back to Drovers Run, but he refuses since they already are hours away from it. Moreover, he tells her that she has first to settle her family problems.

Soon after the dagging accident, Tess receives a call from Becky warning her of the poisoned creek. She instructs the supposed boss to get the stock near the creek out of there, and into the yard. All alone with feet aching, Tess is left with no other choice, but to single-handedly herd the cattle away from the creek. Confronted with the distressing situation, she seems to have finally gotten her bearings, as she gathers the cattle with the help of Roy. However, her work is not yet over. A calf has gotten itself stuck in the muddy creek where its mother lay dead. Tess rushes to save it from meeting the same fate, and jumps into the cold water. With a quick soak, and a little push she manages to rescue the calf. When that is over, it did not take her long to successfully secure all the cattle in the coral away from the creek.

Bob helps Becky realize that her brothers are responsible for the poisoned creek. It was their job to dump the chemicals in a land hours away from their pick-up points. Having learned of the empty farm nearby with access to the creek, they decided to just dump the chemicals there. Becky is faced with a dilemma of turning her brothers in. She finds no problems having Mark arrested, but her concern is with Seany whom she believes could still be saved from following the fate of their troublemaker brother. The time she makes the decision arrives when they meet them on the road. In order to stop them, she stops in front of their speeding truck daring them to stop or run her over. Successful with her plan, they halt giving her the chance to check their load. Bob was right. The truck is filled with drums of chemicals waiting to be disposed. After a bit of urging, Bob follows her request and they drive back to the farm that had lost cattle. She makes a deal with the man who after learning that the perpetrators are her brothers was considerate enough to grant her request of keeping the cops away. Her plan is to have her brothers pay him for the poisoned cattle.

Unaware of the alarming situation in Drovers Run, Claire’s only worry is the knob, and she goes on and on about the ridiculous mistake of Peter assuming that Alex is her husband. Seeing that he is not far from them, and enjoying his friend’s humiliation, Alex keeps their conversation around the topic long enough until Claire makes another misstep. Unaware that Peter has made his way to where they are at, she embarrasses herself once again when she refers to him as a mindless idiot.

Claire’s worries are nothing compared to Becky’s who had to admit her brothers’ crime. She finds them at the empty farm lot in the act of dumping the harmful chemicals. Sticking to his word, the man only accosts Mark, and leaves Seany. Becky believes that Mark only influenced their younger brother, and tries to keep him from spending time in jail. It was for this reason that she made the deal with the man. However, she still has to find a way to repay Claire of any cattle that died due to her brothers’ wrongdoing. Thanks to Tess’ efforts, she would not have to worry about that. This leaves her with only her family problems to fix. Seany fails to see the sacrifice that she had to take to keep him away from trouble. Upset for having their brother arrested, he blames her everything - his angst born out of her leaving her family. In addition to her family worries, Becky had made Bob miss his performance review. Afraid that she might have cost him his job, she gives him license to tell them what truly happened even if it will be at her expense. Bob, truly kind-hearted, assures her that there is nothing to worry about.

Meg and Jodi return, and find Tess with the cattle. Guilty for Jodi’s accident, Tess apologizes for pushing them hard in her dumb attempt to prove that she is boss. However, after learning that she had single-handedly rescued the cattle from the poisoned creek, the women find new respect for her. Meg is more than happy to prepare her bath, but finds that she had already fallen her sleep in her muddy work clothes with her new boots still on. Meg tries to remove the worn out new boots, but Tess unconsciously does not let her. And so, she just puts a blanket on her to keep her warm, and leaves the tired young woman in peace.

Meanwhile, Claire is still up as she and Alex share pizza in her room. In spite of all the insults she hurled at Peter Johnson, he teases her that the man might think that she actually fancies him. She could not fathom how a man would think that the woman he patronized, damaged his car, insulted and made fun of him the whole day would develop feelings for him. In addition, Peter still thinks that she and Alex are married. Too tired to figure out his twisted mind, Claire gets Alex to leave. Although he does not resist, he ends the night stuffing his mouth with pizza and asking his supposed wife to give him a goodnight kiss. She could not help, but chuckle at her best mate. Alas, the next day arrives, and Claire is back at Drovers Run to learn that all is fine despite all the incidents, and accidents. With her sister back, Tess has finally removed her new, but smelly and worn out boots. All is in place except for the sheep that managed to make its way inside the bathroom.

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Dirty Pool – McLeod’s Daughter’s Episode 1.14

Synopsis: A string of robberies plague the neighborhood, and Claire McLeod is angered. However, her anger turns to embarrassment after learning that her sheep only wandered off to the National Park, and were really not stolen. Then again, it was only a matter of time before they too become real victims of the thievery, and the women decide to catch the culprit on their own. Meanwhile, Jodi Fountain is anxious about the constable knowing that Becky Howard shot Brian Cronin. Her anxiety heightens after learning that her friend had stolen the Gungellan Pub’s pool table to get back at him.

Episode Summary: It was late at night when a man gets out of his Ute and starts shooting Killarney’s security cameras. The next day the McLeod’s hear the news that the Ryan’s cattle have been stolen. Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappelle) is particularly angry about the string of robberies especially since some of their sheep have also gone missing. Senior Constable Cook arrives looking for Claire about the matter. Jodi Fountain freezes at the sight of the police car. Having full knowledge of the incident where Becky Howard (Jessica Napier) shot Brian Cronin on the leg, terrified Jodi starts to blab despite Becky’s instructions to keep her mouth shut. Fortunately, she only mentions about a gun accidentally going off. The constable ignores the strange encounter with the girls, and only asks them to point him to where Claire is. Senior Constable Cook leaves, but Jodi is convinced that he knows that Becky shot Brian. He finally finds Claire, and informs her that her sheep have been found. Embarrassingly, her sheep were not stolen as they only wandered off to the National Park where a park ranger later found them. Tess dwells in delight of her sister’s mistake, while Claire broods. Meg Fountain (Sonia Todd) is having a bad day of her own. Already up to her neck with housework, Claire orders her to come help muster the lost sheep.  Continue reading...

Meanwhile, Tess McLeod (Bridie Carter) is fixing the fence when she sees smoke. She rides off only to find an old, dingy hut owned by Sidney Angus Connolly. Old man Sid used to be Drovers Run’s head stockman before he injured his back. After learning that Sid knew her father, Tess somehow develops a soft spot for him. Unlike her sister, Claire only feels aversion towards the man whom she believes to be crazy. Reading right through her sister, she forbids Tess from bringing the old man to the house even before she makes the suggestion.

After hours of brewing, Meg finally has had it, and Jodi’s simple request of her putting the kettle on was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Meg with her packed luggage storms her way to the car, but ends up riding to town with Claire, Jodi and Becky. They arrive in Gungellan where Meg informs them that she will be staying in town indefinitely, and she also does not want to be disturbed. Meg has finally found her peace at the Gungellan Hotel’s honeymoon suite. She wastes no time to call Terry, and ask him to keep her company.

Knowing full well about Becky’s position with Brian, Claire decides to stay away from the Gungellan Pub to avoid an awkward situation. However, Becky who is not easily scared away insists that they still have lunch at the pub. Then again, she finds that Brian has found a new girl to replace her, and this troubles her.

Nick Ryan arrives from his trip to Adelaide where he paid a visit to his doctor. After seeing that no one has come to pick him up, he goes straight to the pub where he finds his brother Alex who informs him about the stolen cattle. Nick could not believe how this could happen given their expensive security measures, and he appears to blame Alex for not making good use of their technology. The tension between the brothers dissipates with the embarrassing news that Claire’s sheep were found wandering around the National Park, and therefore not really stolen.

Meanwhile, nervous wreck Jodi begins to worry when the constable arrives. Becky gives her more reason to be anxious when she stands up to Brian after he tells her that she is not welcome in his pub. Jodi’s anxiety seemed to have rubbed off to Brick who has been playing pool with the girls. The deepening tension between Becky and Brian, and the girls’ constant whispering has caused him to lose focus. As a result, he ends up with a foul when his ball jumps the table.

At Drovers Run, Tess disobeys her sister’s explicit order, and brings old Sid to the house. Not only does she let him take a bath, she makes her lunch, and even offers him some of Jack’s old clothes. It appears that Tess feels sorry for the old man whom she presumed to be lonely. She later finds out that Sid is perfectly content with his isolated living, but also learns that there is some truth to Claire’s belief that the man has lost his marbles. This she discovers after he attests seeing a spaceship plus his obvious memory loss, but despite this she still finds him harmless.

At the pub, Becky finally sums the courage to warn the new girl about Brian. However, her best intentions were not taken justly as she thinks that Becky is only scaring her such that she could get her old job back. Brian sees this, and he follows Becky to the ladies room to threaten her. Although he has not attacked her again, the intimidation alone had caused her knees to buckle. Good thing, Brick had also followed her, and was outside the door waiting for her.

The women except Meg arrive home only to find Sid who still appears crazy only cleaner. What they do not know is that Tess had let him use the bathroom. No good deed goes unpunished as she ends up cleaning up his mess. With Meg away, and Tess preoccupied with other things, the girls end up with Claire’s awful cooking – gray tuna casserole. Not only did they end up with inedible food, they too had to clean up her mess, which appears to be the whole kitchen. Meanwhile at the Gungellan Hotel, night has come, but Terry still has not arrived. Meg all dressed up waits for his arrival only to learn that he is stuck at work, and won’t be coming until the next night.

Morning came, and Jodi is in charge of breakfast. Unfortunately, she’s no better than Claire as she tries to poach eggs without water causing the kitchen to be filled with smoke. Used to having everything ready and in order, the women finally begin to realize all the work that Meg does for them after learning that there is nothing prepared for them to eat. Tess hasn’t lost hope, and volunteers to get eggs from the chook they keep at the shearing shed. However, she drops the one egg it laid, this after seeing the pub’s pool table at the shed. Tess confronts Becky, but Claire’s appearance, and Sid’s arrival put a stop to it. The old man had walked all the way from his hut to deliver news that some stockmen led by Gary Dobson have been loitering about their boundary fence. With the thieves unmasked, Claire rounds up the women for a stake out.

Later that night, they camp out waiting for the thieves to return. Stuck outside in the cold with Claire, the women make the best of their unpleasant situation by making fun of the ram that hasn’t got a single ewe. Their conversation ends up with stories of their own pilfering after Claire declares that she could not stand thieves, and could never steal. In disbelief, the women grill her about it. Feeling out of place, Claire remembers the time she stole a stamp at her boarding school. So, she who attests to have not stolen anything in her life realizes that she did. Somewhat excited at her own realization, Claire eagerly tells the story of her misdemeanor only to end up being laughed at, since as Tess put it - nerd crimes don’t count.

Following Terry’s promise, Meg lies in wait. Finally, a knock on the door, Meg opens the door with a flirty growl only to find Brian instead of Terry. Brian had come to deliver the message that Terry is stuck with the mustering, and would not make it. He, nonetheless, brings a bottle of champagne, makes a pass at Meg, and invites himself in. She tries to keep her cool, and successfully gets rid of the man. Alarmed with the whole incident, she blocks the door with a chair as a precaution.

The women including Claire who had organized the stake out had fallen asleep only to be awakened by the sound of a truck. Claire spots the truck full of sheep, and she wakes her team. On horseback, they ride to catch the thieves. Each with a shotgun on her hand, they line the road to block the truck. Old man Sid was right, Gary and two other stockmen get out of their vehicle to confront the women. Cocky, and sure that they would not shoot any of them, he somewhat dares them to. Claire being a very good shot shoots at the truck’s front tires. Unafraid, Gary smugly walks closer to Claire at which point she shoots his hat off. Realizing that she means business, the men surrender. With no intention of imprisoning them themselves, they end up painting the thieves’ heads pink. Meg returns home only to find the women up early on horseback. All are ecstatic to see her back, and are more than happy to let her know how much she is missed. However, the joyful reception is short-lived after seeing that the kitchen is a complete mess.

With the thieves’ pink hairs, it did not take long for the constable to arrest them. He drops by Drovers Run to personally deliver the news. He, however, has another matter to discuss with them. The Gungellan Pub’s pool table has gone missing, and Brian suspects that it is in Drovers Run. Being the only one who finds no reason for it to be found there, Claire offers the constable a quick check around the property as an assurance. Tess, and Jodi who know full well what Becky has done tries to stop the search, but fails miserably since Claire insists. They start with the shearing shed, but with the lights off, and Tess and Jodi blocking the view, the pool table appears out of sight. The two are relieved not until Claire turns on the light accidentally revealing the stolen pool table. Her jaw drops in utter disbelief at the sight, and moreover at Senior Constable Cook for turning a blind eye and pretending to have not seen it at Drovers Run.

Although Meg would have been the first one to turn Becky for her misbehavior, she has a change of heart given the previous night’s incident. She is now on Becky’s side, and she urges the young woman to report the crime done to her. Moreover, Meg appears to provide full support to back her up.

All’s well that ends well, Tess drives down to old man Sid’s hut to bring him a bottle of whiskey, and finds that he had stolen one of their rams, but since he helped them catch the sheep duffers she decides to let it pass. Meanwhile, Claire proves that she really cannot steal, not even a stamp. Even after years have passed, and although whomever she stole it from might not even remember it, Claire decides to mail the stolen stamp back to its owner. Also, although she is against stealing she has forgiven Becky for doing so, and even invited the Ryan brothers to come for a game of billiards. It is for good reason, since the Ryan’s have brought their own cues, since theirs are locked inside the table. Moreover, they had brought with them Brick who turned out to be the one person who helped Becky steal the pool table.

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