Blue Heelers S04E42

Possession

Episode 4.42 (170)
November 25, 1997
Written by David Boutland
Directed by Russell Burton

Maggie is telling Dash of her recurring nightmare of a dark and angry horse when Robbie brings in his new employer, Doreen Jackson, and her father, Jim Jamieson, to report that one of his paintings has been stolen — a painting of a horse. Ever since Jim was crippled by a rogue horse, it seems he paints nothing but horses — the same horse, over and over again. But when Maggie and PJ go to his derelict property to investigate, they discover that the stolen painting has been returned. Jim can't understand it , but PJ thinks that answer to the confusion lies in the empty liquor bottles on his table.

Robbie heads off to his job at Doreen's service station, but is soon calling the station to report he has been robbed. Apparently two leather-clad bikers held him up at knife-point and stole the takings in the till. PJ is skeptical, suspecting that Robbie may have staged the robbery in order to use the money to support his heroin addiction. Maggie vehemently rejects this suggestion, desperately needing to believe that Robbie has turned a new leaf. Tom mediates between them, insisting PJ take the case at face value.

At the hotel, PJ meets one of Chris' guests who rides a motorbike. He says he is a food critic, but PJ finds his attitude suspicious. That night Maggie wakes from another nightmare and hears Robbie going out in her car. He doesn't return until the next morning, but when Maggie learns more of Jim Jameison's paintings were stolen in the night and that Jim has been injured, she evades PJ's questions about Robbie's whereabouts by saying that she was asleep. The injured Jim won't admit to being bashed, and can't give a description of the thief. Dorren alibis Robbie, defiantly telling Maggie that they spent the night together.

Then Tom discovers that Chris' mysterious guest is in fact an art-dealer, with priors for selling forged paintings. PJ and Maggie investigates this theft, but it quickly emerges that they have different agendas. PJ is trying to establish some link between Robbie and the dealer, but Maggie knowing what she knows, is desperate to prove that Robbie was not involved. Instead she finds the opposite. She finds tyre prints from her car out at Jasmine's, and a small triangle of wood in the boot of her car. The dealer explains to her that this is a framing wedge, used to help stretch an unframed painting — like the stolen ones. Maggie confronts Robbie with this evidence, accusing him of the crime. He admits it, but says he got rid of the paintings for Doreen, who wanted to stop her fathers obsession with painting the horse, and threw them out at the local tip. Maggie wants to believe him.

Meanwhile PJ accidentally learns that Maggie had evidence that she is not sharing with him. He finds a courier clerk who remembers sending a large package to Sydney for someone of Robbie's description. He is now certain Robbie is linked to the crime, but instead of proceeding officially, he goes to Maggie and offers to help her hide the evidence in return for a promise that she will now get Robbie out of her life. Maggie is extremely moved by this demonstration of the depth of his love for her, but soon realises that she cannot allow him to sacrifice his integrity for her. It is in PJ's arms, in bed, that Maggie accepts that she must be true to herself — she is a copper, that's her job. Maggie and PJ get back to work, first proving the case against Robbie and then arresting him. He will go to prison, where he may or may not get off heroin. Maggie has finally realised that it is his problem to solve, not hers. And life will go on in Mt. Thomas.

Guest Starring: Brett Climo as Robbie Doyle, Sally Lightfoot as Doreen Jackson, Marshall Napier as Jim Jamieson, Robert Menzies as Bill Golding, Catherine Wilkin as Sally Downie, Jeremy Kewley as Tony Timms

(encoded with Handbrake - Blue Heelers - from Complete Fifth Season DVD - the early years)

Duration: approximately 45 minutes
Aspect ratio: 4:3 standard
Audio: linear hi-fi/stereo
Size: 428MB
Video format: MPEG-4 (MP4)

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