Laura Gibson, corporate lawyer, appears to have it all - until one fine day her life starts a downward spiral - her son, Rupert, gets expelled, she almost kills the family cat, her husband goes to gaol for fraud, she loses out on the partnership, and her sister Trudi has been having an affair with Laura's husband. Deciding it is time for a change, Laura accepts a friend's offer for a job as a magistrate. With her children Rupert and Miranda, Laura moves to the small seaside town of Pearl Bay to start a new life. Meeting the charming but strange "Diver" Dan, the Pearl Bay encyclopaedia Meredith and the scheming real estate agent Bob, the Gibsons discover their house isn't all it was cracked up to be.
The Gibsons first full day in town sees them meeting the locals. Laura heads to work with surfing court clerk Angus and his on-again off-again fiancee Karen; the first case is ex-magistrate Harold Fitzwalter. Laura learns some secrets about the town and Meredith's baby. Kevin the handyman and his son Trevor meet Laura before the kids tell her how boring the town is. Bob and wife Heather invite the Gibsons over, however Miranda's immediate reaction to Jules, the "perfect daughter" isn't welcoming. Laura sees Dan again and begins to realise how different the town really is.
Meredith's pregnant niece Carmen is up to her old tricks - conning free meals out of chefs. While Meredith schemes with Laura to keep Carmen in town, Miranda and Rupert realise Mitsy the cat is missing. Thanks to Meredith, Carmen's full list of crimes is revealed and Harold must fight in court to keep her out of the lock-up. Laura takes cooking classes from Dan in order to make something for her family. Three chefs arrive in town to go up against Carmen and find themselves stuck at the Pub, where Meredith tries to get Dan to cook up a feast for them. Laura tells Miranda about Jack and Trudi, Mitsy returns and Harold wins Carmen's case.
When good-doer Matt Reilly gets put up in court, the town tries to keep him out of gaol. Laura and Sergeant Grey suspect something is going on and race to uncover it. Bob sets out to impress some Federal Parliamentarians, while Jack arrives in town for Rupert's birthday. Laura, sick and tired of Angus' feelings, asks him for a sign when she does something wrong in court. After the truth about Matt is revealed, the town come together to stop the law from interfering with Jack's and Rupert's time together. The local pool tournament winners end up being them, beating Bob and Craig - the entire town (sans Meredith and Laura) run down the street in their underwear as a defeat dance. Bob's chance at Federal Parliament goes down the drain.
The trial of Sergeant Grey's daughter finds some home truths which cause the town to question their morals. Trudi comes to town setting the men's hearts on fire. Angus, Simmo and Griff fight over a suit they've had for years in order to show off to Trudi. Laura and Trudi are stuck together at a welcoming party and rumours start flying about Laura and Dan's relationship. After Laura and Trudi come out with their feelings, the men decide to get rid of the suit but it washes up for Kevin - another sign of his "good luck"
When someone drives Griff's car over (and evantually under) the bridge, the town is at a loss for the culprit. As alibis and motives come flying out of nowhere, Laura is stunned at how many people were involved. Bob and Heather begin planning for their annual anniversary party, only the Gibsons aren't invited. Laura and Dan are the victim of more rumours, after she asks him how to fit in. Her plans go awry however after the town try to change her mind in the case against the real driver. The proposal for the bridge gets underway however Meredith is opposed to it. Unfortunately the rest of the council are not. Angus and Karen's relationship is put under stress thanks to Carmen, as is the relationship between Miranda and her mother. Heather and Bob's party is a success, but Laura gets a shock while swimming nude - both Dan and a boat of fishermen get a first class seat!
With the town's children on camp, the adults are left alone. Laura enjoys some time to herself and Bob and Heather enjoy some time together. Dan's separated wife Dorothy arrives in town for a lawsuit against Bob but puts Laura in dismay about her relationship with Dan. Dorothy also puts a strain on Bob and Heather's relationship, while Angus' help only makes it worse. Laura tries to get fit and Meredith's phenomenal memory comes in handy in the case. When the kids arrive back and Dorothy officially divorces Dan, the town swings back into normal mode.
Laura is dreaming of love and is bored of the single life. Karen is pressuring Angus into commitment and meeting her strict parents. Meredith wants Harold to sober up so he tries to stay in jail for 3 days to get off the booze. Laura asks Dan to the Magistrate's Dinner Dance. Dan goes to court over parking fines because he likes the free jail food where he usually gets 7 days. To give him a change, Laura gives him 100 hours community service helping her do office duties, she thinks he'll hate it. But in fact, he files her whole system perfectly. Karen's parents arrive changed and are full into life drawings and being natural. Only Karen's father is confessing to a bank robbery from 1991 and Sergeant Grey is reluctant to arrest him. Karen accepts her parents for what they are and Laura gives Dan outside work. Dan and Laura go to the Dinner Dance together and Karen considers travelling when she realises Angus isn't ready to settle down
The death of a teenage boy on a road is investigated and the whole town is distressed. Rupert is trying to do a project on His Favourite Thing but doesn't know what to do. Jules feels she is responsible for Jerome's death, as do his mother and Rupert. Dan tries to help Rupert but sparks up fights with the whole town when he gets drunk. The inquest discovers Jerome killed himself and Rupert and Dan bond.
After Laura and Dan spend the day together, Dan's dreams get the better of him and Laura's seduction doesn't work. Carmen says there is a syzygy - three cosmic things in line - which causes the 'silly season'. As Karen dreams about a stuffed up wedding and Laura and Dan dream about each other, Craig is arrested with some youths for an environmental protest at Brabey Point, making Miranda look at him in a different light. Bob, who is part of the building, gets Craig off of the sentence and Laura and Miranda go for a picnic at Brabey Point only to discover Rupert and Trevor filming a young couple make out. When the car stops working, Laura rides to town to get Dan and Craig takes Miranda back to town where she educates him on global warming and environmental dangers. The Jelly family aren't impressed but the discovery of all the times spent at Brabey point make Dan and Laura curious. Craig is almost convicted of assault, but thanks to Rupert's video gets off. Only, the video also shows
Instead of the usual musical extravaganza, this year's Pearl Bay Thespians production is a play penned by Harold with Meredith at the helm. After years in the wings, Heather is cast as the leading lady opposite visiting professional and old flame, Barry Boston. Bob immediately presumes an affair is taking place. Unlike Bob, Laura is keen to maintain her dignity and calls upon the help of Dan to save her from the show. Apart from working overtime as Laura's bad acting coach, wounds from Diver's past are re-opened when he discovers a friend's violent domestic situation. While Harold's play pays tribute to the law, Dan and Laura come into conflict over the justice of the legal system
Jack's fraud trial is finally being heard and the kids convince Laura support him in person. Back in the city, unexpected sparks fly between Laura and Jack and just as she is offered a spanking new job. As Laura ponders over her future, Phrani tries to fortell other people's as part of her special Tax Return package. Disturbed by Heather's recent bizarre behaviour Bob blames Phrani for encouraging her to continue with it. Kevin is also in need of Phrani's support when his de facto, Lucy, is released from prison. Unable to cope back in the real world, Lucy sends herself back to jail as Laura, too, must decide if she wants to return to the 'real world' or stay by the sea.
The work on the bridge is completed and Carmen is almost ready to give birth. Meredith and Harold are seeking out their lost daughter and Laura comes up for a trial where an elderly man attempted to murder his terminally ill wife. Laura and Dan's affections for each other are reaching boiling point but as tensions rise, the storms also do
With the Pearl Bay Bridge closed to traffic thanks to storms, An angry customer who lost his work in the Continental Deluxe caravan (when it went into the sea), sues Kevin. In a hilarious court case, Dan gives evidence as to bizarre weather conditions - but his heightened relationship with Laura makes it no easier. Meredith and Harold have discovered Heather Jelly is their daughter - the woman in town they know least about! Their new son-in-law, Bob is not a man Meredith likes. Unfortunately, Heather has left Bob and his life is disintegrating - he has also been asked to resign from the role of shire president Jack is still hanging around, not happy with Laura and Dan's relationship at all. Karen gets drunk at the pub - a sight that Angus has never seen (and doesn't want to see)
A beautiful tax prosecutor (Frontline's Alison Whyte) takes Bob to court but ends up falling all over him, much to Heather's dismay. Jack is back in the kid's lives and Rupert wants to get his parents back together. However, Laura and Dan are growing closer -until Dan suggests travelling the world. Laura doesn't want to , but Dan does and he goes. At about the same time, Rupert runs away and while the town looks for him, Meredith and Heather begin to bond as mother and daughter
With Diver gone, Laura discovers his old mate Max ""Mullet"" Connors has returned to Pearl Bay with his wife and moved in to the boatshed. Laura is distressed at Dan's leaving and disturbing the court - and a stalking case - regularly. Heather reveals to Bob who her parents are but he has bigger problems - Katrina Fennessy has gained his trust and left with the Community Bank's money. Max and Laura instantly bond.
Katrina Fennessy is reaping the benefits of Bob's trust, despite the town being against her. Angus and Karen's relationship changes. Rupert tries to find the cause of his parent's dysfunctional relationship. The town tries to find Katrina and Bob guilty of SOMETHING while Heather tries to find out more about Meredith. On a sadder note, Max's wife Elena passes away
While the town wallows in grief, Bob tries to think up a name for the new pool. Angus has lost his sandbar, Max has lost Elena, Carmen has lost her child and Bucket has lost his dog - Alfonso Domenico Jones, the towns main grief. As they learn to deal with what they're facing, the citizens of Pearl Bay clash on right and wrong.
While Max and Laura grow closer, Sergent Gray and Kevin try to catch some giant ""Coconut Crabs"" that are running amok in Pearl Bay. Max's old friend Paula returns to town but their friendship seems to be too close. Heather and Bob go to a marriage counsellor, after worries about their infrequent sex life become too frequent for Bob. Laura and the kids go to see Jack's new house in Port Deakin and the two adults seem to be friends again. However, Trudi is pregnant and news that Jack and Trudi did not break up as early as it seemed sparks anger in Laura
Max has decided to leave Pearl Bay - grief over Elena is too much. Unfortunately, a car accident and real estate troubles means he has to stay. Laura and Jack are continually arguing over Trudi's baby and the town is awaiting the annual Pork Festival. The Pork Festival is on everyone's mind, but Laura has to make Lemon Butter to carry on Dan's reputation - it seems too much for her. Angus' ex-girlfriend Imogen is one of the main participants of the Festival, much to Karen's dismay Laura is asked to judge the bathing suit contest, a rite she finds disgusting.
In an episode about beliefs, Kevin's guilty conscience comes knocking when he has visions of the Grim Reaper. Laura and Max's relationship becomes a rumour while Angus and Karen are unsure what to do. Meredith's memory is failing her - she can't remember a thing for an entire day! An ex-friend of hers, a practising Buddhist comes to town and has the town intrigued. Jules and Miranda are doing history assignments. Miranda wants to do one on the history of Pearl Bay but Laura wants her to do the boring Gibson family tree. Jules, however, annoys Heather with discussion of family background, causing Bob to question whether he wants to be involved with Harold and Meredith.
A fire-twirler named Felix, and unliked by Laura, is the object of Miranda's affection. Kevin and Phrani try to increase their love life and Laura and Max have dinner - which results in the discovery of how much they have grown to love each other. Heather and Bob have Harold and Meredith over, but are still keeping the news from the town. The male community all express their thoughts of women, while Sergeant Grey wonders about the destruction of the 150 year old community hall. The suspect is Felix but the real vandals however are Rupert and Trevor. As passions ignite and fade, the town will never be the same again
As Laura sits regularly with her tea on the beach waiting for Max, a young boy steals a bicycle and Craig realises something is wrong with a house Bob owns. The relationships between the characters change this episode - Max and Laura are feeling more to each other, and Laura is realising there is another side to Angus. Max and Carmen are making friends and the town seems in a happier mood than when we left them last. Unfortunately, both Craig and Rupert have done bad on their school report. Laura pushes Rupert but Bob seems to have a different thought for Craig. When Max discovers the skeleton of Jim Jelly in the old house, the town's gossip-meter turns up. All the children in the town are contemplating their future - and nothing is as their parents see it. The citizens have come together and must stay together, now more than ever
Harold's estranged wife comes up in court over custody of a cat her and her neighbour share.The ownership of the cat has to be temporarily moved for the case but as people shift the cat, it ends with allergic Max. VERY pregnant Trudi is living with Jack, which means Laura won't allow the kids over there, causing more arguments between the Gibsons. Ultimately, Laura does not resolve her differences, but a very drunk and tired Max falls asleep on Laura's bed.
Speculation about Phrani occurs, when her old ""friend"" arrives in town and stories fly everywhere. Love between Max and Laura and Angus and Karen (along with Phrani and Kevin) are the main factors of the episode while the town learn that they have to live their own lives and not be worried about other people's opinions
Conflicts are overflowing in the town. The courthouse is being closed, Meredith doesn't know what to do, everyone wants to know about Laura and Max and the list goes on. Without warning, the town knows everything. In a revelating meeting, the town's secrets are all brought out. Heather and Meredith tell all and Trudi reveals her baby isn't Jack's. Meredith begins a seige at the courthouse, where the town's residents inside say a gunwomen is holding them hostage. Laura stays in her office thinking it is real while Karen, Angus, Max and a small group of our favourite's sit in the courtroom enjoying a sing-a-long. When the demands are met, the only problem is to get away with it. Karen decides to leave Pearl Bay and travel, much to Angus' dismay. Phrani and Kevin become closer and Bob and Bucket blow up the bridge. The town waits for the aftermath, not sure what it will mean
Bob is distraught after the council has been fired. Worried that he will be involved, Bob must track down the Port Deakin mayor. Karen returns from her travels to split up with Angus and find a new job. Angus takes some time off from his role as Court Clerk. Max must fight to keep his boatshed from being destroyed
With the Fire Brigade dance looming, Laura struggles to get a date. Max is taken with the new Latin Dancer and even Griff has a date in Karen! Jules is arrested for theft, much to Heather's dismay and the dance is the fire of everyone's emotions. Max and Laura however seem to be getting on well - dancing on the pier in the moonlight.
Laura joins the Women's Auxilary to be a part of the town's women. Meredith and Karen try to stop her, but she won't. The newly elected president - Vicki Drury, wife of Dave, is opposed to Heather and her ""minions"" - Phrani and the like, but Laura joins anyway. At the big sporting event, Laura gets in extreme trouble for what she does. Vicki, however, is the butt of everyone's joke when her husband is arrested for faking a burglary. Heather decides she should be a martyr and get the women of the town really together. Angus discovers he is too predictable and changes his timetable, causing Kevin to get into all sorts of troubles. Max and Carmen go on a stakeout but it ends up turning into a night of love.
After Max and Carmen's affair, Carmen goes to the city for a job interview. The whole town thinks he took advantage of her and shuns him. Laura has no idea though. Bob convinces the town to boycott Port Deakin, causing Phrani to be at a loss for supplies. The town has to pitch in to help. Morton Tregonning is the only person who Max thinks can help - with a vision of the Robert James Jelly Tunnel connecting Port Deakin and Pearl Bay - much better than a bridge!Bob is sucked in and cancels the boycott. Sergeant Grey meets a group of hippies who are fighting over Television. The leader is Harold's nephew. In a court battle, Laura is put to the test. Carmen returns, deciding to take the job because she knows Max really loves Laura
The new court reviewer, Warwick Munro takes an instant delight to Laura and they start dating. Max tries to stop them but to no avail. Angus gets in big when he pretends to have a surfing company to impress legend Mark Richards. The town TRY to help and when Angus' surfboard is stolen he will go to great lengths to get it back. As Bob is sucked into Mortons plans he has little idea what lies in store...
Griff is being kicked out of his home and moves into the Jelly's house. Laura tries to help him using a law of Adverse Posession. As Laura continues to see Warwick, the town grows to like him and wonder what Max will do. Trudi is back in the town and Rupert is fond of her child. However, Laura is not impressed and still will have nothing to do with her.Kevin and Phrani continue to work on their relationship after moving in does nothing
An old friend of Max's arrives in town but no-one seems to like him when he is locked up for breaking Grey's trumpet. As music fills the jail all weekend, Grey and the prisoner have to bond to survive. Laura and Max consider their friendship and the entire town seems to be contemplating the future. Grey is rejected from the police band to his dismay and the town is left wondering if their lives are really good or just blowing in the wind
Laura's mother, June, arrives in town during a geriatric traffic crime spree. June's suspiciously sudden appearance is more of an inconvenience than a pleasure for Laura, who is too caught up in her own life to sense her mother's sadness. When Laura eventually discovers her father's declining health has forced June to place him into respite care, she is forced to reassess her priorities. Max begins to spend more time with his father and his friends, learning of Pearl Bay's real, great, textured history. However, Bob has his own interpretation of the town's past and plans to turn Pearl Bay into Ye Olde Pearl Bay : a sure-fire tourism hit. Max plays along with Bob's redundant plan for his own entertainment. When judgement day arrives and the city tourist agents descend on the town, instead of letting Bob hang himself, Max turns an inevitable disastrous slide show into a tribute to the older citizens of Pearl Bay. Meanwhile Harold feels the grip of old age tightening. His frustration is w
Laura's ego is battered when she is not chosen to speak during Eminent Persons Week at Rupert's school. Laura heads off to the principal's office under the guise she is concerned about her son's education. She should be, her visit brings Rupert's report card fraud to the attention of Ms Philby. But perhaps worst of all for Laura, Warwick has asked her to marry him. The corrupt former Port Deakin councillors are finally brought to trial before Laura. Max is suspicious as to who pays the councillors' entourage of legal eagles - headed by an old associate of Laura's, Hilary Tonks Q.C. Naturally, when Max and Hilary meet at Laura's dinner party, Max can't help but stir things up. An emotional argument ensues catapulting Laura into accepting Warwick's proposal. Meanwhile, Heather is excited to learn she is the recipitent of a prestigious real estate award. When Bob mocks her legitemate success, Heather packs up and leaves...for good. Bob plummets to rock bottom when Morton threatens Mr Jell
Kevin is acting strangely. He heads out of town without Phrani, won't speak more than three words at once and most worrying of all...he's wearing slacks. Phrani's worrying is appeased when Kevin's sister, country singer Suzy, arrives in Pearl Bay to claim their recently dead father's silver guitar. The case ends up before Laura where Suzy's adamant belief her Dad was a member of the ""Master's Apprentices"" is challenged...and eventually proven correct, resulting in a cliff side tribute concert. Laura is reluctant to spread the news of her impending marriage but she is keen to sever all legal ties with Jack. However, when Jack pays Laura what he owes, she is left feeling unexpectedly hollow. Karen, too, is eager to even the scales. After Karen reveals her continental infidelity to Angus, she inisists he has an affair to compensate...while Meredith has her own way to keep Harold on his toes. Construction work finally begins on the tunnel site, arousing Max's curiousity. When Max doesn't k
While Laura's on a one way track to the altar, Maxs announces he has accepted a lucrative job with an international newspaper and will be leaving Pearl Bay - and Laura - behind. Of all things, a trivia night question causes Max to reassess his life. Max is reminded of his likeness to the mariner in Colerdige's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', who shot an albatross, his potential saviour. In other words, Max realises he should stop making a habit of sabotaging his own happiness. Meanwhile, Bob launches his campaign with Morton at the reigns. Mr Jelly receives female attention from his forward image consultant, Astrid Moore, prompting Bob to warn Heather she'll let a tiger out to play if she doesn't take him back. Heather knows Bob couldn't cheat on him no more than she could on him. Her theory is proved when a terrified Bob bails out a restaurant toilet window to escape Astrid's advances. Trudi finds herself in court...as Vietnamese interpreter. As the case unravels, the defendant is
Laura desperately wants to be honest with Warwick about her night with Max, but the moment constantly eludes her. To compound on her anxiety, Jack, distraught since Trudi left him, refers to Laura as the 'good', faithful sister. Work is no help either. Barry Boston and his ex-lover, Ari, are in battle trading accusations of deception and passionless love. With the rocky Jelly marriage creating bad PR, Morton threatens Heather into supporting Bob to keep face. However, newly independent Heather can not be swayed and throws her support behind the new candidate on the block - Meredith. To add to Bob's woes Craig goes through a sexual crisis, closely observed by a bemused Miranda. Yet despite the setbacks, Bob's campaign rolls on with Morton in the driving seat. Max's investigations reveal Morton plans to turn Pearl Bay into a nucelar wastedump! An incredulous Bob goes public and withdraws his nomination. Meanwhile poor Karen bravely accepts her fate as the 'dude bride' at her forthcoming
While Laura suffers the fallout of a cancelled wedding, 'The Oyster' - publishing anti-nuclear material - is seized. Max and Phrani conjure a plan to keep the newspaper in print but Morton Tregonning prepares to open the nuclear waste dump regardless...just as soon as the tunnel is completed. After protesting at the tunnel site, Miranda and Craig are arrested for trespassing. When Laura learns all police and legal authority in town are Morton's Port Deakin stooges - including her new co-worker, Port Deakin magistrate, Tucker - she is angered. Feeling utterly powerless, Laura quits her position as magistrate, deciding to defend Miranda and Craig herself. Tucker's bias and corrupted self ensure the case will be impossible to win until Max discovers an anomaly which saves the day...but not the fate of the town. As the ends of the tunnel come close to connecting, the locals pray for a miracle...which comes in the form of a natural disaster courtesy of an enexpected source...Meredith. Frust
After losing her job in Africa, former magistrate Laura Gibson returns to Pearl Bay to visit her daughter. But after two decades, Pearl Bay has changed in ways that will challenge everything Laura believes about life, love and family.
Laura tries to convince Miranda to keep her newborn baby. Fin reveals his romantic side to Miranda during the full moon. Laura is shunned by the people of Pearl Bay after she orders Ben to close his pub.
Miranda's world is rocked when her half-sister makes a surprise return to Pearl Bay. Laura is heartbroken over Anna's plans to adopt baby Joe.
Stella's secret plan to save Pearl Bay has dire results for Miranda and Fin. Bob Jelly feels the heat when his business partner gets out of prison.
Miranda is desperate to hide her romantic past from Fin. Laura helps Ben mend his broken heart and rediscover his love of Pearl Bay. Kevin's dreams come true when a past love returns to Pearl Bay.
Bob Jelly launches a cunning plan to reclaim his dodgy cash from the police station. Laura receives a valuable life lesson from Ben. Miranda teams up with Fin to win the annual fishing competition.
Fin helps Miranda with her dream of starting a marine centre, but at what cost? Laura's life is in crisis when Ben's ex-wife applies for her job as Magistrate.
Laura, Miranda and Bob Jelly join forces to save Pearl Bay from destruction. Miranda is forced to confront her true feelings for Fin.
