Episode 3 of "Toxic Town" intensifies the battle for justice as we leap forward in time, witnessing the relentless pursuit of the mothers and Des in constructing their case against the odds. Des emphasizes anew the four pillars they must uphold: firstly, demonstrating that a cohort of women, all pregnant concurrently, were adversely affected; secondly, uncovering the underlying cause of their plight; thirdly, establishing a direct correlation between the toxins and the health issues suffered by their unborn children; and lastly, proving the council's awareness and negligence in the matter.
In a council session, Sam confronts Roy once more, exposing Rhodes & Miller's unscrupulous profiteering from the halted investigations. Yet, Roy brushes aside his allegations with indifference. Meanwhile, Ted finds himself confined to the homefront, his spirit seemingly dampened.
The narrative shifts to 2002, where, during a council meeting, a medical professional asserts that there were no anomalies in the birth defects reported. He firmly contends that it is impossible to ascertain whether these defects were toxin-induced.
Adding insult to injury, the council claims that all pertinent documents were unfortunately lost in a fire, effectively bringing the case to a grinding halt. Subsequently, Des informs the group of another report that surfaces, claiming no contamination in the water, further undermining their already fragile case. Susan, sensing Des's potential wavering commitment, leads a daring incursion into the contractor's site with a few others to obtain a water sample.
However, Des, sensing their desperation, cautions them that mere proof of toxic water at the site is insufficient—they must conclusively demonstrate its infiltration into the residential water supply. Despite her lingering doubts, Susan is reassured by Des's unwavering dedication to the case, which rekindles their collective resolve.
In the meantime, Roy makes a decisive pronouncement, barring Sam from participating in the impending elections. At school, Connor becomes the target of cruel ridicule due to his deformity, which escalates into a brawl, ultimately resulting in his suspension. Elsewhere, Des and his companion embark on a quest for a second medical opinion regarding the health report that had reassuringly declared Corby free of any notable birth defects. Their journey leads them to Dr. Parker for a more thorough examination.
In a surprising twist, the corruption accusations leveled against Pat are dismissed with contempt. Undeterred and resolved to confront Roy, Sam decides to throw his hat into the electoral ring as an independent candidate, accusing Roy of masterminding the obliteration of crucial evidence.
After numerous attempts, Des finally breaks the news to Susan that the health report is flawed, revealing the glitch in the study's methodology. The study had included the broader Kettering area, encompassing Corby, and erroneously compared these aggregate figures solely against Corby, introducing a gross error through double counting. Upon correcting the data, it becomes undeniable that there indeed exists a concentration of birth defects in Corby. Furthermore, Des shares that they have secured a prime news segment to raise public awareness, and he eagerly seeks Susan and Maggie's participation in it.
Although Derek had previously persuaded Maggie to abandon the mothers' group, upon discovering the statistical error, she resolutely decides to join Susan on the news broadcast, calling for other impacted women to step forward and reach out to Des. The broadcast goes live, its message echoing through the airwaves, urging those affected to seek justice.
Later, Des encounters another expert who hypothesizes that cadmium could be the root cause of the birth defects. However, to establish this in court, they require a foetal medical specialist to assert with 95% certainty. The doctor suggests focusing on defects involving the upper and lower limbs, as these could be definitively linked to the pollutants in question. This narrows their focus to just eighteen women, unfortunately excluding others, including a devastated Tracey.
Meanwhile, Sam's electoral defeat coincides with Connor undergoing another surgery, the direst outcome being the potential amputation of his hand. The very next day, Sam presents Des with fresh evidence, while Tracey visits Susan to lend her companionship during this trying time. Mercifully, Connor returns home, safe and sound.
While strolling alongside Des, Tracey mentions casually how the area used to be blanketed in dust due to the passing lorries and frequent chemical spills. This revelation ignites a spark of insight within Des—he realizes that toxic dust laden with cadmium might indeed be the perpetrator.
During the subsequent meeting with the mothers, Des updates the group, revealing that the expert believes the contaminated dust traveled far and wide, affecting the entire town. He urges the mothers to gather photographs from that era—anything that can validate the presence of that toxic dust. Additionally, he informs them that thanks to Sam, they now possess documents that prove the council's negligence.
The episode concludes on a tense cliffhanger, as Des' co-worker pressures him to inform Tracey of her exclusion from the case. However, Des chooses to delay this difficult conversation, acutely aware of how deeply this lawsuit means to her. For Tracey, this legal battle transcends a mere settlement—it represents justice for her daughter's life.
