As the curtains rise on the second chapter of "Black Snow," James Cormack (portrayed by Travis Fimmel) and Dale Quinn (Gulliver McGrath) delve into the enigmatic contents of the time capsule. James uncovers a startling revelation: Kalana Baker had laid eyes on the murder missive, and Mick, a respected local elder played by Damion Hunter, had entrusted Lynn (Lucy Bell) with the task of restoring everything to its original state. Intrigued, James steps outdoors to confer with Hazel (Jemmason Power), seeking her insights on her recent observations and pleading for her discretion until further notice. Despite her inclination to believe it was Isabel’s hair, James emphasizes the necessity of forensic verification, contemplating the profound cultural significance hair holds in some traditions and pondering if its severance held a unique ritualistic importance. Hazel’s temper flares, mistaking his inquiry as an implication that black magic was behind Isabel’s demise.
Elsewhere, Troy Turner (Kim Gyngell) is apprised of the hair samples destined for Brisbane’s forensic labs. James remains steadfast in his conviction that this was a personal vendetta, not a random act of crime. He rationalizes the absence of sexual assault, the deliberate relocation of the body outside the cemetery, and the post-mortem haircut, questioning the purpose behind planting the hair to be discovered decades hence. To unravel the mystery, James decides to digitize a video and forward it to Brisbane for meticulous examination.
At her abode, Hazel confides in Kalana (Eden Cassady), announcing her intention to prolong her stay until the fog surrounding Isabel’s case clears. Their conversation briefly pivots to the new detective before merging into discussions about incorporating a Black Lives Matter message into a mural. Meanwhile, Dale compiles a playlist from the songs found on James’s phone, labeling it "Time Capsule Mixtape." As James immerses himself in the melodies, a flashback unfolds, revealing Isabel (Talijah Blackman-Corowa) noticing Tasha with Anton, prompting Hector (Fraser Anderson) to halt his filming upon instruction. However, Hector later secures permission to interview Isabel’s mother, who promises to unveil the authentic Ashford.
At the workers' camp nestled beside the mill, Isabel hands her father, Joe (portrayed by Jimi Bani), the day's mail. On her way back to Hector, she crosses paths with Steve (Erik Thomson), prompting Izzy to inform Hector that Steve is Chloe's father. Hector, mistaking Steve's intentions, suspects he might be making advances towards the young girl. They then seek counsel from Butch, who is being cared for by Izzy's mother. Butch urges Hector to seize the opportunity to educate himself and leave the farm's confines, reminding him that youth is no longer on his side.
Aunty Rosa (played by Lisa Blackman) imparts wisdom to Izzy, urging her to capitalize on opportunities denied to their forebears. She shares with Hector that their distant ancestor, a chief and leader of his tribe, vanished one morning after heading to the beach. Like him, many strong men from Vanuatu were summarily taken. When Hector inquires further, Rosa reveals they were kidnapped and forced into labor in distant fields.
James and Dale scrutinize the time capsule inventory, a list compiled the morning before Isabel met her tragic end. James notices a purple glitter pen, identical to the one used in Isabel's letter. He observes that while Isabel initially expressed love for Ashford in her missive, her sentiments shifted dramatically by its conclusion. Dale mentions the Ankou, the Grim Reaper of souls, sparking Troy's interjection to belittle Dale and quiz James on his lack of a firearm. James responds by noting how firearms often incite anxiety.
In a meeting with Lynn, James learns that she and her family own the mill. Lynn recalls Isabel as a sweet, considerate soul, struggling to comprehend the message behind her letter, which seemed uncharacteristic. The time capsule, intended as a creative punishment for detention students, was meant to be sealed after the formal. However, it remained unlocked for a week prior to being buried, following an inventory session attended by all. Lynn expresses relief that James is probing deeper into the mystery, though she leans towards believing Troy Turner fulfilled his duties diligently.She believes he is present there due to Mick's uproar, insisting that more would have been done had Izzy been white. She contends vehemently that Mick is mistaken. James seeks out Isabel's family to introduce himself properly. Joe asserts that they are a resilient clan, safeguarded by divine providence. When probed about his faith, James admits to holding certain beliefs. He then delves into inquiries about the Ankou, wondering aloud if Isabel had any fascination with the darker paths. Joe remains reluctant to entertain such notions, while Glenda expresses her concern, recalling how their daughter sounded genuinely terrified. She doubts that Isabel ever felt sacred. Joe insists that God has a purpose for everything, but Glenda counters that divine plans are not always sufficient.
In a private moment, Hazel advises James to proceed with caution, reminding him that people will only open up to him if they trust him. He counters by saying that gaining their trust will be easier if she trusts him first. Before departing, James thanks Hazel for keeping the hair's discovery to herself. Hazel is reminded that she bears too many secrets of her own.
James places a call to Mick's office, requesting a callback to discuss Isabel's murder. He retrieves the video and starts watching it in the confines of his motel room. Alongside, he reads Chloe's letter detailing plans for buying a car and embarking on a road trip. Outside the mill, James meets with Chloe (Brooke Satchwell) to converse about Isabel. Chloe shows him the van they had intended to drive to Sydney in, revealing that Isabel never revealed their plans to her parents out of fear of Pastor Joe. She did not witness any abuse towards Joe, perceiving him solely as a protective father. Chloe doubts that Isabel authored the letter and speculates that Hector might have been behind it, given his penchant for stirring trouble and a potential interest in the occult.
On the fateful night Isabel passed away, she ended things with Anton after discovering his affair with Tasha. Chloe caught a fleeting glimpse of a blue car but did not catch a glimpse of the driver.Around 12:30, she escorted Isabel to the intersection, where Isabel turned back, blowing her a tender kiss before resuming her journey. Following the meeting, Chloe dialed Troy's number, eager to inquire about the latest evidence. Meanwhile, Tasha (played by Kestie Morassi) awakened beside Anton (portrayed by Alexander England), her curiosity piqued about the previous night's events. Anton labeled it a relapse, explaining they had been intoxicated and it should never have transpired. Tasha, however, saw potential amusement in it, considering he was no longer married. When he emphasized it was a bad time, Tasha wondered if it was due to the letter and if he still harbored feelings for Isabel. She couldn't fathom what was wrong with him, reminding him that Isabel had been deceased for a quarter of a century.
Elsewhere, James was captivated by the video of Chloe discussing her family and the mill when his attention was drawn to a blue station wagon in the backdrop. As he continued watching, the same vehicle reappeared, prompting him to scrutinize the license plate more closely. His mind flashed back to a night when the car had silently trailed Isabel. Joe preached passionately in church, with Isabel among the attentive congregation, while Hector lingered outside, intent on filming the church for the time capsule. Isabel cast a curious glance at a newcomer. Chloe's arrival in the van soon persuaded Isabel to accompany her for a ride. Mick inquired about when she planned to inform her father about her Sydney plans, to which she replied she would do so upon receiving promising exam results. He doubted her father's forgiveness and warned against disrespecting him.
Upon her return, Chloe revealed Anton's desire to meet later. Hector suggested brushing him off, but Isabel agreed to the meeting. Hector longed to show her the video of Chloe's father, yet Isabel declined, mindful of her parents' impending return. When Isabel arrived at the agreed-upon location, she found a man darting out of the bushes, screaming for help as someone on a motorcycle chased him. Isabel picked up his abandoned shoes, her gaze piercing through the crops. Turning around, she was startled by a depiction of the Ankou staring back at her.Isabel pedals furiously away on her bicycle, fleeing from an unseen threat. Meanwhile, Hazel meanders through the fields of crops, her thoughts drifting until she finally arrives home. She unburdens herself to her parents, revealing the startling discovery of Izzy's hair, intricately braided, inside an Ashford High T-shirt within the time capsule. Joe posits that someone they knew and trusted had snatched Isabel from their lives. Glenda, with a stern resolve, urges Hazel to rise to the occasion. Hazel responds with a touch of sarcasm, inquiring if she is now expected to assist the White bully. Glenda affirms, stating that it is her duty, whatever it takes.
Elsewhere, James seeks out Anton to delve deeper into the mystery surrounding Isabel. Anton confesses that Isabel was his first love, claiming to have been with Natasha on the night of the murder, engaged solely in intimate relations. When James questions if Isabel shared his sentiment, considering her愤怒 on the night of the formal, Anton insists on his love for her, blaming Hector for stirring up her emotions. Their dispute centered around the road trip, which Anton doubts she would have embarked on with Chloe, hypothesizing that her father would have disallowed it. Anton asserts that he did not derail their future; the murderer did.
Katherine (Daniela Farinacci) and Victor (Rob Carlton) express disbelief that the police have yet to locate the blue car. Victor wonders aloud about the psychopathology of someone who would remove hair from a deceased girl, prompting James to realize Hazel or another has spilled the beans. When probed about the letter, Anton dismisses it, dismissing the Ankou as Islander hogwash, although James corrects him, terming it Celtic folklore. Anton divulges the location of a forthcoming meeting before James departs.
James then confronts Hazel, who admits to informing her parents about Izzy's hair. James ponders if the perpetrator could be someone from their locale, amidst rumors swirling of a bikie enforcer or a satanic ritual. Hazel grapples with fleeting moments of belief, whereas James, who has always admired those with faith, derives his strength from anger. In contrast, Hazel finds her energy rooted in guilt, painting a vivid picture of their contrasting coping mechanisms amidst the darkening mystery.
She recounts how his tattoo commemorates the very day Izzy passed away, whereas he unveils that it marks the sorrowful occasion when his brother Ritchie vanished without a trace. He shrugs it off as a mere coincidence. Kalana crafts a fiery video, lambasting the statue of the founder who had once enslaved her ancestors. Hazel steps in, compelling her to retract her words and scrub off the paint splattered upon the monument. Mick, privy to Hazel's confirmation of the hair tale's authenticity, questions whether she harbors secrets for the menacing bully. However, Hazel asserts that she owes him no explanations. At home, Glenda and Hazel reprimand Kalana, their disagreement escalating to the point where Glenda strikes her across the face.
James ventures to the store to confront Anton, only to discover him lying prone with a gash on his temple. Anton insists that he was ambushed from behind and remains tight-lipped about his assailant. Hazel receives a call and readily agrees to meet the caller at their convenience. Victor arrives to ferry Anton away, prompting James to suspect his intoxication. He insists on continuing their conversation about the potential perpetrator before turning to Victor for insights. Victor jocularly suggests it could have been someone's romantic partner, reveling in the mystery. In his motel room, James rewatches the video, then hops on a bike to the skate park where the youth had gathered.
A call from his supervisor interrupts his thoughts, informing him that the car's registration hadn't been renewed since 1994. The vehicle belongs to a pastor from a church in a remote part of NSW named Vanuatu. James posits a connection, noting that the victim's father was also a pastor. His supervisor concurs, offering to personally interview the car owner for him. Hazel meets with this individual, reminding them of their solemn pact to take their secret to the grave.
