Heartland

Season

1994

7.5

Heartland was an Australian television drama series that ran on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1994. It ran for thirteen episodes and starred Ernie Dingo and Cate Blanchett. The show was also known as Burned Bridge in some countries. Plot summary Heartland deals with the mystery surrounding the death of an Aboriginal girl and the doubts concerning the guilt of her boyfriend, who is arrested for her murder. It is also a love story between two of the people convinced of his innocence. Their growing relationship must survive hostility from both the white and black communities and the obstacles of their different backgrounds, attitudes and cultures. Set in a small coastal town against the turmoils of murder, mystery and romance, Heartland follows the people from this seaside community and their battle to restructure their own way of life. Their struggle to restore their self-esteem towards a positive future, despite the obstacles in their path. Other plot elements revolve around the character of Elizabeth Ashton a writer arriving in a small coastal community. A degree of suspicion exists towards the newcomer who is ignorant of any underlying racial tensions. This naivety allows her to more easily befriend local Aborigine Vincent Burunga. Into this mix is the local police officer Phil McCarthy who seeks Ashton's affections whilst being hostile to her friendship with Burunga, not just as a rival suitor, but because of racial prejudice.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Episode #1.1

Vincent Burunga leaves his home and his past in Western Australia and makes a fresh start in New South Wales as an Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer, working in the small coastal town of Brooklyn Waters.

S1 • E2

Episode #1.2

Vincent Burunga is an outsider to the local Aboriginal people and the white justice system, he finds himself constantly walking on the edge, caught between two cultures - trying to understand each other.

S1 • E3

Episode #1.3

Ricky's statement to the Police admitting he killed Wilga in a drunken rage apparently closes the case, and the two families at Binbilla are torn apart, as they deal with the death of one community member at the hand of another.

S1 • E4

Episode #1.4

The afternoon Wilga was killed makes Vincent even more convinced that the confession he gave is worthless, and more determined to find out the truth of what happened.

S1 • E5

Episode #1.5

Ricky comes back from the hospital to the cell, knowing that there is no way now to avoid being transferred to the city.

S1 • E6

Episode #1.6

As Vincent deals with the frustration that Ricky is in jail for a crime he probably didn't commit, he is forced to face his personal inner turmoil...and is drawn back to Western Australia to confront the secrets of his past.

S1 • E7

Episode #1.7

In the alien country of Mount Augustus, Beth is unable to bear the idea of Vincent undergoing the ritual punishment that he feels he must, in order to atone for his past breach of traditional law. which might cost his daughter her life.

S1 • E8

Episode #1.8

Beth and Vincent return from Western Australia, to find that their changed relationship is a source of unwelcome interest for everyone in the small town.

S1 • E9

Episode #1.9

Putting their failed relationship behind them, Beth and Vincent throw themselves into their own concerns. Trying to ignore how much they miss each other.

S1 • E10

Episode #1.10

Vincent, Beth, Alf and Chris go to the city to pursue Ricky's case.

S1 • E11

Episode #1.11

Vincent and Nerida succeed in doing a deal with the D.P.P. to get Ricky bail, but are foiled when Garth broadcasts details on air.

S1 • E12

Episode #1.12

After Ricky's bail application unexpectedly fails, Vincent, Alf and Beth return from the city without him to everyone's disappointment.

S1 • E13

Episode #1.13

Fearing he will die, the family gathers. Even Ricky is allowed a compassionate visit, and it is while they are all gathered together at their lowest point that Vincent discovers the final unexpected piece of the puzzle.