RAN: Remote Area Nurse

One Ball (1x2)

Air date: Jan 12, 2006

The island is rocked by a sudden and cruel death. Giddy Fenton - the son of the island’s cop, Mick - drowns at sea while attempting to ferry contraband alcohol onto the island. Island Chairman, Russ Fenton goes on the warpath. He’s enraged by a patriarchal system that entices islanders to behave like furtive delinquents. To ensure that Giddy’s death is not in vain, he proposes to overturn the ban on alcohol and establish a wet canteen. Russ’s daughter Nancy leads the opposition to the plan, claiming that it would spell disaster - a return to the bad old days. Russ woos Helen to his side. An infuriated Nancy accuses Helen of being bought out by the promise of funds to a new clinic. Their long-term friendship feels the strain. But it’s Russ’s personal overtures towards Helen that are more unnerving. The moves he makes are subtle, refined, even flattering… but if Helen were to act on her feelings, it would not only destroy all the trust she has built up on the island, including the influential female elders, it would also be a betrayal of Russ’s wife, Ina, whom Helen admires. And there’s a professional consideration - Helen has to guide Russ through a health crisis. It’s all too impossible, however much Helen feels herself drawn towards this charismatic and powerful man. Then Helen discovers that Russ has been planning the wet canteen for some time and that Giddy’s death has been a tragic but timely way to help it happen.