As the narrative of "Black Snow" unfolds in this particular episode, Detective James Cormack (portrayed by Travis Fimmel) meticulously scrutinizes the surveillance footage while scouring the database for any mention of Richard Vogel. His search unearths a cryptic reference to the Harborne House from 1998, but unfortunately, the pertinent records are under seal. Intrigued, James delves deeper into the history of Harborne House, uncovering its former identity as a youth detention facility plagued by allegations of mistreatment.
James seeks insights from Hazel Baker (played by Jemmason Power), who reveals chilling tales of the facility's dark past. Determined to uncover the truth, James attempts to secure a subpoena, only to find himself thwarted by bureaucratic red tape. Hazel, adhering strictly to the rules, insists she cannot bend them to his will. James, in a plea tinged with desperation, implores her to reconsider. Touched by his persistence, Hazel reluctantly agrees to uncover the location of the hard copies of the records.
Elsewhere, Nadja Jacobs (Victoria Haralabidou) awakens in the comfort of her camper van. She and Val (played by Paula Nazarski) venture to visit Daisy (Lilliana Bowrey), bearing a phone charger and tokens of affection. Daisy, believing herself to be in hiding from an unseen threat, feels a semblance of safety. She accepts their invitation for a leisurely stroll. Shortly thereafter, Samara Kahlil (Megan Smart) arrives in a police cruiser, her concern evident as she inquires about Nadja's well-being and whether she has sensed any attempts by Zoe to reach out from beyond. Nadja reveals a haunting encounter from years past, one she could not dismiss as mere fancy.
Samara, convinced that Zoe's spirit has been trying to communicate, shares her own haunting experience: phone calls on the anniversaries of Zoe's disappearance for eight long years. She is steadfast in her mission to prove it is indeed Zoe's voice before enlightening Detective Cormack.
Meanwhile, James pays a visit to Leo (Dan Spielman) at his workplace, where Leo's brother Will (Josh McConville) happens to be present. James informs Leo that Joseph Rua (played by Vinnie Bennett) possesses an alibi, to which Leo responds skeptically, dismissing Melody Foster as a figure of little consequence. He elaborates further, painting a picture of Joseph as a thirty-year-old vagrant who dwelled near Zoe's favored running path, the Blue Gum Track. Leo concedes that Zoe was grappling with the aftermath of Cody's suicide, and while they tried to support her, they could not shield her from Joseph's persistent presence.Leo departed the festive gathering close to midnight, necessitated by a crucial conference call with American investors. Will revealed that the Americans had been dissatisfied with their proposal, necessitating a complete overhaul. Consequently, they found themselves ensconced in the office throughout the entire night. In a private conversation, James approached Will to inquire about Nadja's well-being. To Will's surprise, he was unaware that she was residing in a van. Seb had ceased communication with Nadja following a misunderstanding during his 21st birthday celebration. Intrigued, James sought Will's perspective on the situation. Will, already aware of Zoe's intentions to leave Moorevale, harbored a hope that she had simply vanished from the town without a trace.
Elsewhere, Samara accompanied a young woman to the cemetery, where she also paid her respects at Cody Neilson's grave. Her attention was drawn to a pack of cigarettes near the grave, prompting her to contact Ella Vuko, who was associated with the federal authorities. Samara requested Ella to trace a blocked number, to which Ella readily agreed.
A flashback transported us to 2003, where Samara Kahlil (portrayed by Alana Mansour) stood beside Zoe Jacobs (played by Jana McKinnon) at Cody's funeral. They merged with the mourners, and Sean Cosgrove (Frederick Du Rietz) approached them, jesting that he was there for the sake of a good photograph for his mother, Julie (Kat Stewart). Sean recounted his long-standing friendship with Cody, dating back to their primary school days. Samara warned Zoe against rekindling her relationship with Sean. Zoe, however, emphasized Sean's supportiveness, attributing it to his own experience of loss. Zoe sought Mandy Neilson's (Alice Ansara) permission to leave some books on the table as a token of her connection to Cody. Mandy gifted her something that Cody would have wanted her to have. Outside, Brad (Radek Jonak) requested their signatures in the condolence book, but Samara abruptly walked away. Zoe questioned her about the real reason behind her behavior, suggesting it wasn't solely about her. Samara argued that Zoe would understand Cody's actions better if she focused less on her own perceived issues. Nadja joined them, informing Zoe that Seb had fallen asleep in the car. Zoe labeled her actions unbelievable before departing with Joseph, only to create a scene amidst a heated argument with her mother.
Returning to the present, James visited Nadja at her workplace, concerned for her welfare amidst these tumultuous events.He yearns to revisit the fateful night Zoe vanished, an evening Nadja concedes will sound dreadful as she confesses she wasn't fully attentive to Zoe during the festive gathering. After the cake was sliced and shared, the adults departed for the night, leaving the children to continue their revelry while Nadja retreated to the sanctuary of her bed. Upon awakening the next morning, the harrowing realization struck: Zoe was no longer there.
The conversation shifts to Joseph, who was purportedly accompanied by Melody at the crucial hour. Nadja is steadfast in her belief that Zoe found herself in Brisbane. James, grappling with uncertainty, admits ignorance regarding the sequence of events that led to Zoe's disappearance. Meanwhile, Seb Jacobs (portrayed by Saro Lepejian) delves deep into the mystery surrounding Zoe's absence.
James seeks out Joseph at the restaurant where he serves as a chef, his intention clear—to discuss Zoe. He's aware of Joseph's ejection from her 21st birthday bash and inquisitively probes the source of his funds for initiating his entrepreneurial venture subsequent to Zoe's disappearance. James cautions Joseph about the wisdom of seeking legal counsel. Upon returning home, James discovers a USB thumb drive awaiting him, and upon playing its contents, he's transported back in time through a video of him and his brother fishing in their younger years.
While driving, James tunes into a radio show that mentions 'deepblue32,' piquing his curiosity further. He catches up with Samara, querying her about Zoe's most ardent admirer. Samara reveals that, though Zoe and Joseph exchanged flirtatious glances, nothing concrete materialized between them. James persuades Samara to accompany him to Zoe's running track, where they stroll and reminisce about Zoe's strained relationship with her mother. Samara opens up, confessing that Zoe was her first heartbreak and emphasizing her belief that parenthood is life's ultimate blessing.
James considers offering Samara an exit from the case, but she remains resolute in her quest to find Zoe. She leads James to a private property where Zoe used to swim for respite, prompting James to snap a photo with his phone for comparison with one held at the police station. Flashing back to 2003, a tender scene unfolds: Joseph brings Zoe breakfast, and she confides in him her innermost feelings. He invites her for a swim, setting the stage for an intimate conversation later marred by an unrelated altercation between Brad, Mandy, and Cody that deeply affected Samara.Zoe makes a bold decision, crafting flyers that expose Brad's brutal behavior towards women and distributing them far and wide. While Sam looks on from the confines of their vehicle, Zoe sets Brad's truck ablaze, the flames flickering ominously in the night. The duo hastily abandons the scene in their car once Sam exits his vigilant watch. Upon returning home, Sam is met with an unexpected sight – the police are already there, filling the atmosphere with tension.
Inside, Sergeant Dave Gee, portrayed by Stephen Walker, engages in conversation with Leo and Nadja, while Zoe is grilled about Brad Holt's incinerated vehicle. Leo defends Zoe, asserting she was diligently working at the office alongside Will. Gee agrees to verify this claim come morning. After Gee's departure, Nadja's keen nose detects the telltale scent of gasoline lingering on Zoe. Leo scoffs, branding Joseph as scum, and laments that their business could crumble without soon-forthcoming work.
At the office, tempers flare as Leo refuses to take an inebriated Will on a job, opting instead for Gita, played by Amali Golden. Will vents to Zoe about Leo's blindness to his contributions. Zoe catches sight of a Mont Vista Estate pamphlet, which Will reveals as their day's assignment. Her heart sinks, recognizing it as Cody's former home.
Later, Zoe seeks solace at the radio station, curling up in Cody's makeshift bed. Her voice crackles over the airwaves, dedicating a poignant show to Cody and lambasting the opulence of the villas. Elsewhere, Samara weeps inconsolably until Yasmin Kahlil, portrayed by Louise Lamella, enters, curious about the tapes playing. They ponder the circumstances behind Zoe's absence, Samara hypothesizing that Zoe might be hurt or fled from harm.
Will pays a visit to Leo's home, hoping to persuade him to aid the homeless Nadja. Leo, needing time to process, agrees to consider it while also conferring with Gita. Seb arrives, catching up on the unfolding developments. Meanwhile, Samara entrusts James with a shoebox, revealing it contains tapes she made for Cody, who cherished them and used them to hone his craft. The tape Zoe took was their final collaboration; the box holds the remnants of their shared memories. The other box, Samara explains, encapsulates her cherished recollections of Zoe, prompting her to confront rather than evade them any longer.
They engage in discussions about Zoe's emotional turmoil whenever she discovered Cody hanging. Sam confides in James about Brad and Zoe's scheme to torch his vehicle, an incident she has kept buried in her heart, never revealing it to anyone. Sebastian ventures to the campsite, intent on visiting Nadja, but flees at the sight of a brewing altercation. Leo finds solace in Zoe's melodies, lost in the rhythms of her music. Meanwhile, Sam rummages through her box of photographs, each snapshot a portal to memories past. Suddenly, inspiration strikes, and she dashes outside to impart her revelation to James – she believes she has identified deepblue32's true identity: Sean.
Sean's mother, once the mayor and now a senator, had provided him with an alibi during the incident. James urges Sam to arrange an interview with Sean. Constable Matt Thorpe (played by Toby Carey), eavesdropping on their conversation, hastily phones his father to inquire about their ongoing friendship with Sean. Julie, engrossed in her work, is interrupted by Sean Cosgrove (portrayed by Benedict Samuel), who inquiries about the reopening of Zoe's case. The detective informs him that fresh evidence has emerged, and Sean's name has come under scrutiny. Sean subtly reminds Julie that he's not the only one with concerns to worry about, prompting her to urge him to calm down.
James seeks counsel from Doctor Nina Hirsch (Ella Scott Lynch), delving into the topic of his return to active duty. Nina probes into his personal relationships, prompting James to respond that gruesome crime scenes and missing children do not lend themselves to lively dinner conversations. He perceives a pervasive loneliness among people. Nina then turns the conversation to his mother, painting a picture of a factory worker with rough hands and a perpetual scent of cigarettes clinging to her. When Nina mentions Richie, James admits that those memories are elusive, a blend of reality and imagination that he buries deep within. He hopes that Richie's demise, whatever its nature, was swift and painless, expressing his conviction that Richie is deceased and that he has abandoned hope.
Later, James visits his father, Tommy Cormack (Nicholas Hope), seeking guidance on tracking down the individual who allegedly set Richie up. Tommy accompanies him because Mark (Brett Dunner) refuses to speak with James alone. Confronting Mark, they pose the question about who arranged Richie's fateful job. Mark insists that he has left that life behind and never crossed paths with Richie. Frustrated, James storms off, as Tommy claims that Mark merely wishes to avoid snitching. Sam receives a call from Ella, who reveals that the number used belongs to a prepaid, disposable phone. Ella hints at delving deeper with the right authorization. Sam recalls that the previous night's call originated from Moorevale, and she becomes aware of a vehicle nearby, its occupant keeping a vigilant watch on her.
