Mcleod's Update

TV2 Tonight 7.30-9.30pm Movie length episode.

Episode 171 — 'Second Chances'
It's shearing time at Drovers Run. The sheep are in great condition; the weather is perfect; the girls are keen; the first day all brimming with promise...

Jodi has the day planned out to the last detail. But her easy confidence and control are about to be tested.

Into her morning — totally unannounced — Matt suddenly appears. With the trial over and free of his assumed identity, he's journeyed back to the place and the girl that have meant so much to him.

For Jodi, however, the reunion is complicated, fraught with strong emotions and doubts. And Jodi's best-laid plans are about to face another test. Someone forgot to confirm the shearers' booking. The shearers have taken work elsewhere and won't be available for days. This really puts the girls under pressure.

Jodi enlists Matt to help with the shearing. Things seem to be getting back on track. But when Riley comes on board the day takes another twist into the unpredictable.

When Jodi is thrown by a casual glimpse of Matt's old bullet wound, it is Riley who helps her recover. Later, Jodi tries to explain to Matt what's going on in her head, but it's all too difficult and their relationship takes another backward step.

Stevie and Alex fare no better — his willingness to extend a forgiving hand to Tayler angers Stevie, who doesn't believe that he's ever been willing to do that for her.

Meanwhile, Regan has her hands full dealing with Tayler. Regan is still trying to cover for the youngster's mistakes and provocations, but her generosity is wearing thin with the others who would be happy to see the back of their unhelpful visitor.

Fearing that the girls are about to give her her marching orders, Tayler steals the shearers' wages, and Stevie's ute.

But a shocked and angry Regan rises above the occasion and her act of startling generosity is a revelation to Tayler. Ultimately it allows Tayler to reach out for forgiveness and acceptance. The end of the episode sees her welcomed into the Drovers' circle — with conditions attached.

A moment of thoughtless rivalry between Matt and Riley causes Matt to reverse his ute into the stobie pole. The transformer comes loose and plummets into the ute tray. The ute is now 'live' and the boys are trapped. The crashing transformer also starts spot fires and electrical hazards. No-one notices that a fire has started in the shearing shed. The whole building is in danger of disappearing in a spectacular fury of smoke and flame. While the girls save the shed, Matt and Riley must work together to get themselves out of the ute without electrocuting themselves.

Jodi's CFS training proves invaluable and the dangerous blaze is brought under control. She then helps to rescue Matt from the live ute.

Matt and Jodi manage to reach some sort of détente. Looks like he'll be sticking round.



Episode 172 — 'All The Wrong Places'
A charming and good-looking man arrives at Drovers looking for Killarney. His name is Marcus Turner and he is quite enamoured of Stevie. He's been sent by Bryce to look over Killarney's books, inspect the property and report back. That theory goes out the window when Marcus and Alex start to clash heads. First Marcus questions Alex's call on the dam that Drovers are building near the boundary; he thinks that Alex could be more hard-ball. Then Marcus flirts with Stevie and also manages, inadvertently (or so he says), to spill the beans on Alex's unfortunate situation with Bryce (him saving his bacon over Fiona). The sooner Marcus is out of Killarney, the better for Alex. But it does make you wonder, why is this lackey of Bryce's so keen to push Alex's buttons?

It all comes to a head in a pool game. Alex and Marcus are up one game each, the winner of the decider gets to choose some sort of punishment for the loser. Meanwhile Stevie, who has accepted an innocent beer with Marcus, watches on as the men partake in what is essentially, a "manhood" measuring competition. Marcus loses and Alex couldn't be happier; time for revenge on a public level. He challenges Marcus to perform a hundred push-ups on top of the pool table — a task Marcus completes with ease. An uneasy truce is formed between the two men.

The next day, Marcus finishes his report and sends it off to Bryce. He thanks Alex and they part ways. Both men are happy to never see one another again. Marcus is home free, or so he thinks. Bryce, having heard the two men got on okay, does a back flip and tells Marcus to return to Killarney and work the books a little longer. Marcus is outraged; that he wasn't part of the deal. Bryce wants him there as long as he's happy his investment is safe. But why is Bryce so determined to put these men in the same orbit? Marcus returns to Killarney and tells Alex that he's stuck with him. Neither are happy about the situation.

Kate's romantic exit has stirred up some confusing emotions for Jodi. She's taken over the role of roster queen left behind by Kate and she's done an awful job of it. Regan delicately points out that Jodi's rosters don't make any sense; she's even forgot about building the new dam. Jodi adjusts her attitude and decides on building a bigger dam, a super dam! Jodi becomes obsessed with building the dam. So obsessed she ends up busting a Killarney pipe, inadvertently injuring Regan and winding up buried in an avalanche of dirt. So why is Jodi behaving like such a looney?

Jodi confesses to Matt that she's actually jealous of Kate. She's gone off and got a life, a very romantic and exotic life in Africa, while Jodi is left behind, building dams. Jodi doesn't want to sound like a brat, but she can't help the way she feels. Matt offers wise words of support; Jodi's time will come.

Meanwhile, Tayler is trying to prove herself to the Drovers' girls, so volunteers to do a branding job. Things go pear shaped until Patrick helps her out. The two of them establish a strong friendship.