As the curtains draw on the final act of "Ten Pound Poms," Terry Roberts (Warren Brown), with a heavy heart, steps into the house still lingering on the real estate market. Handing back the car keys to Benny Bates (Marcus Graham), Terry confesses a lack of self-pride. Benny, steeped in the harsh realities of the land, insists that ruthlessness is a prerequisite for survival here. Terry, defiant, vows to live by his own principles. As Terry exits, Benny reaches for the telephone directory.
Elsewhere, Robbie Carter (Nic English) engages in a tense conversation with Mandy (Alex Malone) and Hilary (Sibylla Budd) about Mandy's unexpected pregnancy. Robbie, torn and confused, inquiries about the paternity and Mandy's silence. Hilary, swift to intervene, attributes Mandy's silence to shame. She urges Robbie to embrace his duty, highlighting that Mandy's growing bump will soon be impossible to conceal. Hilary emphasizes the necessity of two nurturing parents for the baby, reminding Robbie of his roles in the conception and the responsibility he must now face. Mandy, love-lorn, expresses her belief that Robbie could eventually return her affections. Hilary suggests that Robbie propose marriage to Mandy.
Annie (Faye Marsay), sensing Terry's turmoil, attempts to converse, but he brushes her off. Undeterred, Annie proceeds to invite Kylie (Rose Chachko) and Pattie (Hattie Hook) to Kate's engagement celebration. During a meeting, Kate Thorne (Michelle Keegan) shares with the women her rare moment of genuine happiness. Robbie, meantime, rehearses his words for Kate, unprepared for the impending revelations.
Men from the child welfare department arrive at the hotel, seeking Mrs. Walker (Tina Bursill). JJ Walker (Stephen Curry), eavesdropping outside, catches snippets of their conversation. Mrs. Walker informs them of Pattie's absence, prompting a search. JJ slips a note to Kyle for assistance. As Mrs. Walker directs the men to Terry, Kylie seizes Annie, and together, they frantically devise a plan to expedite Pattie and Mary's departure.
Kylie hatches an ingenious idea, while Terry stalls the welfare officers with a fabricated tale about Pattie expecting a child. Pattie, tears streaming down her face, declares her fear of never seeing her baby again. Annie urges her to flee to the beach hut, promising to join her soon. Kylie, basket in hand, conceals the baby. Peter (Finn Treacy)'s return throws a wrench in their plans, but Terry enlists him to disseminate the falsehood that Pattie is betrothed. Despite Peter's compliance, the welfare men continue their relentless search.
Robbie, steeling himself, approaches Kate. Meanwhile, JJ discovers Kylie with the baby, amidst the ongoing welfare department's scrutiny. With the welfare men hot on their trail, JJ hastily hands Peter a box and they speed away from the hostel. Annie joins Terry in an embrace, as Peter delivers May to Pattie's refuge at the beach hut.
Kate and Robbie confront the revelations. Robbie, struggling with the weight of his confession, admits his inability to marry her, revealing Mandy's baby as his. He recounts his return to Mandy after she vanished with Michael, only to discover her pregnancy and her claims of protection. Now, Hilary orchestrates a hasty shotgun wedding, seeking to rectify the unfolding chaos.
Kate, her voice tinged with despair, declares that Robbie was her last remaining anchor, yet in a moment of distress, she forces him to depart. Terry and Annie finally arrive at the secluded beach hut, seeking refuge. JJ's concern deepens as he foresees the child welfare authorities relentless in their pursuit. He resolves to call upon a solicitor with a proven track record of defending their fellow residents. Peter, however, asserts that they cannot linger there indefinitely. Terry, with a plan in mind though aware it may not be well-received, leads them to Benny's rental property. He insists they will devise a solution together. Pattie proposes returning to England, but Annie stands firm, vowing they will stay united, a sentiment Terry echoes.
When they are alone, Terry initiates a heartfelt conversation with Annie. He admits that he had always viewed the war as his sole burden, never contemplating the trials Annie faced. She opens up about the weight of making countless decisions, how these worries transformed her, necessitating a quest for strength and independence, which she found working alongside Harry. Terry inquiries about her relationship with Harry, to which Annie explains that their connection naturally evolved, believing Harry's intentions were genuine, albeit recognizing that true love blossoms over time. Terry, acknowledging his shortcomings as a husband upon returning, expresses gratitude for Annie's unwavering support. He reaffirms his love, desiring to leave the past where it belongs. Annie, touched, expresses her remorse.
The following day, Sheila Anderson, portrayed by Emma Hamilton, confronts Bill, played by Leon Ford, questioning the authenticity of their marriage. Bill reveals Ray Skinner as a predatory homosexual who coerced him into intimacy, handing over his house keys, allowing her to share it with their children as he has alternative arrangements. Sheila seeks more; she demands he sign papers he has long refused, enabling her return with their daughters if she chooses. Bill hesitates, but Sheila reminds him of his criminal actions, compelling him to comply. He agrees to sign the documents on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Aborigines march for equality, with Ron Mahoney (Rob Collins) catching sight of Maggie Skinner (Maya Stange) amidst the protest. Police arrive to disperse the demonstration, resulting in Arika (Haylee River) being struck, and Ron receiving a warning of similar consequences. Ron is assaulted and detained alongside others. Maggie, distressed, demands to know what crime he has committed. Their lawyer, Leon (Wayne Pygram), warns Annie and the group of additional challenges due to the baby's skin color and Pattie's age. Leon's comments spark Terry's suspicion that Benny is implicated. Privately, Terry confides in Annie, acknowledging his regrettable actions undertaken in Benny's service out of loyalty and financial necessity. He vows to expose Benny, having conceived a plan.
Later, Terry breaks into Benny's office, his heart pounding as he frantically searches for incriminating evidence while a guard patrols with a dog. The guard releases the dog, but Terry narrowly escapes through a window. Ron and Arika are confined in a cell, while Maggie questions the police officer, who dismissively tells her to go home. David Robinson confronts Kate in the morning, reassuring her that Michael is well but urging her to spare five minutes for a conversation. He suggests engaging with journalists, emphasizing that clinging to the past will only perpetuate suffering.
He is willing to pay any price to persuade her to depart from Sydney. Kate proposes a deal: he could relinquish custody of Michael and allow her to bring him back home. She confesses her deep-seated obsession with her son, harboring the hope that David and his will share the same affection for him. Kate emphasizes that she won't be swayed by monetary offers, unlike those who abducted her son and continue to tear children away from their mothers. Though she intends to leave Sydney wife, She vowed not to give David a chance to tell Michael that his mother never wanted to know him. Kate firmly believes that one day, Michael will inquire about her, and she will not be difficult to track down.
Benny pays a visit to Christine Bailey (Taylor Ferguson) to inquire about the status of his money. Their conversation drifts back to the recent incident. Christine suggests that Benny should have promoted Terry instead of terminating his employment. Anne joins them, and they collectively urge Benny to open an envelope containing private correspondence between him and his solicitor, dated after Mrs. Yargelis's demise. The letters reveal that Benny was aware she succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning but reported it as a natural death.
Benny threatens to alert the authorities about the unauthorized entry into his office. Terry retorts by mentioning their possession of photocopies of the letters. He warns Benny that since Benny has initiated aggression towards his family, they will retaliate. Benny insists that they lack the power to implicate him, mocking their status as insignificant figures. He warns them of his capability to make people vanish before storming out. Unbeknownst to Benny, Terry and the others have recorded their entire conversation.
Kate seeks out Mandy, who tutors Wilfred twice a week, seeking a heart-to-heart conversation. Kate reveals that she has been in Mandy's shoes since conceiving in England, where the father was committed to another woman, causing quite a scandal. Kate assures Mandy that she doesn't intend to interfere and plans to relocate to Sydney, vowing never to cross their paths again. Mandy expresses her belief in Robbie's goodness and his righteous actions. Just then, Wilfred reappears with a bloody nose, prompting Mandy to feel nauseous while Kate attends to his wound. Kate follows Mandy outside and notices something unusual about her stomach when Mandy vomits.
She gradually dawns upon the realization that something is amiss. Terry pays a visit to Mr. Milne, revealing to him that Benny Bates' hands are stained with blood. Terry hands over the original recording of his conversation with his friend to Mr. Milne. When inquired about his motives, Terry insists that he is not the person in question. Upon Ron's eventual release, he discovers Maggie toiling away at the hut. Ron laments that his arrest has stripped him of his privileges, confining him to official duties and mandatory reporting of his whereabouts. Consequently, his visits to the hut come to an end. Ron expresses his gratitude for their shared moments and wishes her a fulfilling life ahead. Their farewell is sealed with a tender kiss before Ron departs.
Pattie, accompanied by her family, attends the hearing to challenge the adoption of Mary Clare Roberts. Leon briefly addresses the judge before yielding the floor to Pattie. Pattie eloquently delineates her circumstances and her parents' background, emphasizing her aspiration to raise her daughter as an Australian. Meanwhile, Kate, in search of Robbie, is startled to learn that his wedding is on the same day. She hurriedly en route to intercept Robbie before the nuptials commence.
Sheila abandons JJ and heads to the house to retrieve the signed documents. Bill, flanked by two officers, informs Sheila that they have come to her aid. He alleges that she has escaped from a psychiatric facility. Despite Sheila's attempts to explain the truth about Bill, the police officers forcibly escort her away. Mandy arrives at the wedding venue just as the ceremony is about to commence. Kate, in a rush, arrives at the scene just in time. She bursts in, declaring that Mandy is not pregnant and drawing attention to the menstrual belt Mandy is wearing. Kate urges Mandy to speak the truth in the house of God. Robbie soon learns of Mandy's deceit and, after confronting her, declares his lack of love for her before leaving with Kate. Pattie's appeal against Mary's adoption is denied, paving the way for her parents to adopt her and keep her at Galgownie Hostel.
