Laura's first days in Pearl Bay are a far cry from life in the city she has left behind. As the new magistrate she flounders, ill-equipped to deal with the idiosyncrasies of local residents.

Meredith's niece, Carmen, breezes into town and announces she's not only pregnant but also facing criminal charges for obtaining goods by deception as a restaurant reviewer.

With the kids away in camp, Laura's thoughts turn to a quiet dinner with Diver Dan until Dan's wife turns up suddenly in Pearl Bay.

Laura becomes increasingly convinced that she is living alone in a world made of couples - the arrival of an invitation to the annual magistrate's dinner-dance spurs her to bite the bullet and invite Dan.

Justice is played out on stage by the Pearl Bay Dramatic Society and in Laura's courtroom.

Old feelings reawaken in all the Gibsons, exacerbated when Laura is offered a tempting job by her old firm.

Pearl Bay is going to change forever. Bob's dream to open Pearl Bay to the outside world is about to be realised.

Post-mortems on a Pearl Bay storm leave Laura facing a legal quandary and Bob Jelly with an invitation to quit.

An ominous dream of Kevin's looks like coming true when a mysterious woman arrives in Pearl Bay; Meredith's phenomenal memory fails her; and the locals hide a guilty secret from the past.

Conflicts are overflowing in the town. The courthouse is being closed, Meredith doesn't know what to do, everyone wants to know about Laura and Max and the list goes on.

Without warning, the town knows everything. In a revelating meeting, the town's secrets are all brought out. Heather and Meredith tell all and Trudi reveals her baby isn't Jack's. Meredith begins a seige at the courthouse, where the town's residents inside say a gunwomen is holding them hostage. Laura stays in her office thinking it is real while Karen, Angus, Max and a small group of our favourite's sit in the courtroom enjoying a sing-a-long. When the demands are met, the only problem is to get away with it.

Karen decides to leave Pearl Bay and travel, much to Angus' dismay. Phrani and Kevin become closer and Bob and Bucket blow up the bridge. The town waits for the aftermath, not sure what it will mean