Head For Water

Pearl Bay is grieving - but not in any conventional sense. Max won't acknowledge or share his grief over Elena's death - refusing any gestures of support and not allowing anyone to attend the funeral. Unable to express their feelings over the death of Elena directly, the town's sadness manifests in their reactions to the drowning of Bucket's dog - Alfonzo Dominico.

Bucket is charged and Laura finds what seemed to be a simple matter of unlawful littering, willful damage and Health Act offences, becomes an investigation into who killed the beloved dog and an exploration of whether Alfonzo Dominico (the dog) was the personality Bucket never had.

Carmen returns to Pearl Bay, convinced a recent tribal workshop has helped her recover from losing her baby, and ready to embark on a career as a journalist. She approaches Max with advice on grief, the suggestion that he start a local newspaper and a request for a job. Despite himself, Max warms to Carmen.

Bob has grand plans to upgrade and rename the local pool "The Jelly Aquatic Complex". His vision is thwarted when Kevin suggests it might help Max through his grief to name the pool after Max's father, Len, a long distance swimming hero. Max champions the pool-naming cause and, at Bob's expense, publishes a mocking article entitled "Iron Man or Jelly?"

Angus mourns his own loss. The sandbar which provided the most consistent surfing waves in town, disappears. When Karen realises it could mean Angus leaving, she knows she has to act. There is another memory Angus cherishes ... that one, wonderful time at Brabey Point Karen swore wouldn't be repeated until they'd walked down the aisle. But the situation is desperate and Karen is prepared to do anything to keep her man in Pearl Bay.

Len understands grief. He knows Carmen is not as resolved over the death of her baby as she would like to believe. And Len realises Max's fiery passion for naming the pool after him is Max's attempt to distract himself from his pain. Max finally expresses some of his grief by telling his father a story about Elena.

As the court case over the death of Bucket's dog unfolds, Sergeant Grey is lead to investigate escalating disputes between local fishermen. The mystery of the death of Alfonzo Dominico is finally solved and Max suggests a name for the pool that satisfies everyone - except Bob.

As Laura deals with her own sadness at the loss of her new friend, she tries to offer Max comfort and support. His flippant rejection of her attempts make her feel inadequate. His long distance swimming seems to be his only way of soothing the hurt. Laura receives some insight into Max and a heavy responsibility when she is given a letter in which Elena asks her to keep an eye out for Max.