S1 • E1
Probation officer Paula Radnor is pilloried and suspended when convicted murderer Philip Pointer,on parole to her,kills again. On return to work her senior Marion Sharmer allocates her another lifer,Eddie Mottram,who has served ten years for strangling his girlfriend Georgia when he was seventeen. He is determined to do everything right but finds it hard to adjust to freedom,his married friends not wanting to know him and his sister Kelly being his only family support. He starts work at a garden centre and dates co-worker Jade but keeps his past a secret from her. Given her past experience Paula is harsh on him but feels she is becoming an agent of control,not a helper and agrees not to report him when he accidentally runs into his victim's father whilst visiting the murder site. After rowing with the manager of the hostel where he lives Eddie runs off and turns up at Paula's house,declaring that he is innocent of Geogia's death.
S1 • E2
Whilst Kelly unsuccessfully tries to launch an appeal against her brother's sentence Eddie tells Jade he served time for robbery but Paula,pressurised by Marion,tells Jade the truth about him. Consequently she dumps him and he loses his job, causing him to go berserk at a hostel meeting. The hostel manager wants him recalled but Paula refuses,feeling she is to blame. As she begins to doubt his guilt Eddie learns that Georgia two-timed him with a friend,Ben Somers,now a popular G.P. and Eddie attacks Ben,who nonetheless refuses to press charges. As he is released Paula,having visited recalled prisoner Philip Pointer and learnt about slyness,comes to believe that Eddie is indeed innocent and tells him so.
S1 • E3
Now convinced of Eddie's innocence Paula helps him and Kelly phrase their petition and gets actively involved when solicitor Dawn Clough agrees to take on the appeal. They discover certain,vital facts in the case notes not mentioned at the trial including the presence of another car near the murder site. However Marion and Paula's boyfriend Will think she is getting too involved and Will attacks Eddie. The appeal is dismissed and a local rag snaps Eddie giving Paula a kiss of gratitude,leading to his recall. Is this the end of the line or will the true killer succumb to conscience and come forward to admit guilt?
Paula Radnor
Eddie Mottram
Marion Sharmer
Ken Whiteley
Kathy Whiteley
Kelly
Colin Bolt
Will
Trevor Brotherton
Ben Somers