(twangy guitar music) ♪ So long my little pal ♪ ♪ So long my little pal ♪ ♪ So long my little pal ♪ ♪ I'm leaving ♪ ♪ I'm leaving ♪ - Go home and sober up, Nate.

- Why?

It's his fault!

- You're a pig, Nate!

Always were, always will be!

- Settle down!

You, go down!

- We're outta here.

- You won't be laughing at me tomorrow, mate.

(man laughs) I'm gonna blow the lid on it all, Henderson.

- I'm not getting in the ute with that.

- Geez, Dad.

(car door slams) - Sally.

Wait here, have a beer.

I'll drop him home and come back.

- I can't stand this.

- [Nate] She's a bloody disgrace.

(engine revs) I know all about her.

- [Dwayne] You know nothing.

You're pissed.

(car beeps) (mysterious music) - [Nate] Calls herself a bloody nurse.

- [Dwayne] Shut it, Dad.

(ominous music) - [Nate] I tell ya, I'm gonna blow the lid.

- Give it a rest.

- [Nate] Hey, I'm talking.

That girlfriend of yours... - Dad, just go to bed.

So, I'm gonna go back.

- [Nate] Your mother would be really proud of her.

- It's none of your business!

- You're better than her, Dwayne!

(Dwayne yells) - You need to leave her alone, Dad.

(door slams) (drink swigs) (soft ominous music) (clock ticks) (mysterious music) (mysterious music continues) - There you are.

(tense music) Eh?

Who's there?

(ominous music) (water splashes) (dramatic theme music) ♪ I never knew how empty ♪ ♪ How alone, how cold, how slow ♪ ♪ Ticket on a one track railroad ♪ ♪ To a solo seat below ♪ ♪ If you need a place to lay your head ♪ ♪ And gentle company ♪ ♪ I'll save a seat beside me ♪ - So, Gary... ♪ You can come running to me ♪ - I'm thinking accident.

- Or suicide.

- Okay.

- Well...

If Nate done wanted to kill himself, this is as nice a place as any.

(Kristin chuckles) - Doesn't nice even come into it?

(phone rings) - Detective Senior Sergeant McLeod.

- [Mike] Mike here.

- Mike Shepherd?

- [Mike] That's me, guilty as charged.

- [Gary] Why am I getting a call from Central?

- Because people turning up dead always get a red flag on our system, Senior.

Besides, I've always wanted to visit Brokenwood.

Carpe Diem and all that.

- [Gary] Our body's on your computers already.

- I know, I know.

Facebook, Twitter.

It's all a miracle to me.

- There's nothing to indicate there's a homicide.

That's a long way to come if it turns out to be nothing.

- Then we can all go down to the pub.

Have one on you, Gary.

Would that be so bad?

Don't touch anything.

Should be there in a bit.

♪ When it's okay ♪ (Mike whistles) ♪ Ill come running to you ♪ ♪ Come running to you ♪ ♪ Come running to you ♪ ♪ When it's all blue ♪ ♪ I'll come running to you ♪ - [Gary] Kristin.

Can you go back to the station.

and meet a Mike Shepherd?

Bring him back here?

- Shepherd?

Isn't he the- - Field crime inspector, yeah.

- Coming to Brokenwood?

(Kristin chuckles) Should we be honored or worried?

- Got no idea.

Some old drunk throws himself off a bridge and kills himself, it's hardly Al-Qaeda.

(Kristin chuckles) Maybe he needs to look busy.

You go, I'll stay here.

Try not to touch anything.

(Gary coughs) - [Comms] Kristin, are you free to check out a loitering with intent?

We've had a complaint from a resident in Telemore Street.

- Yeah, that's a no-go, I'm on my way to the station, over.

- [Comms] I know.

It's on your way.

- How could you know it's... Comms, sometimes you're like God.

- [Comms] You've gotta love technology.

- Fine, tell me more (slow country music) ♪ There's only skin on your collar ♪ ♪ Havin' but a dollar on the road ♪ ♪ A fancy hotel ♪ (siren bleeps) ♪ In the cold, dead night ♪ - Morning.

Can I see your license, please?

- Why?

- 'Cause I'm asking.

- And so am I.

- It's a routine check.

- You'll have to do better than that.

- Do you live around here?

- No.

- Okay.

Do you have a valid reason for parking in this neighborhood?

Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd.

- Hi.

♪ You lied ♪ - Hell of a catch.

- [Gary] Yeah.

- Probably the one they wish had got away.

Too soon?

Sorry, I'm never sure.

- Well, there was a note in his pocket.

"I'm sorry."

Kristin... Detective Sims found that just before your "don't touch anything" suggestion.

- Nice spot you picked here, Nate.

What brings you out here on a chilly, dark night?

I know.

Take your time, fella.

- Have you finished?

- Pathology?

- Who are you?

- Gina, this is DI Shepherd.

Mike, Gina Kadinsky.

- Right.

I'll see you at the postmortem.

- What about Gary?

I thought it was his stiff.

- Gary can come too.

The more the merrier.

- Whatever.

(mysterious music) - Nate Dunn was involved in a couple of alcohol related incidents early in the evening.

Nothing unusual.

- For him or the town?

- Him.

He liked to drink.

- Doesn't everyone, Gary?

So, how did he get here?

No car.

- Well, he probably walked.

His farm's about three Ks that way.

And there were footprints approaching the bridge.

They matched the type of shoes he was wearing.

- At least he didn't drive drunk.

Could have got himself killed.

- Or someone else.

- Exactly.

He wasn't too pissed to forget his social responsibilities.

- But wasted enough to end at all?

- [Mike] Suicide, hm.

- Or it could be as simple as, he's drunk, stumbles, falls, and on entering the water, hits his head on a rock.

Drowns.

- Kristin will stay and assist you.

I'll inform the next of kin.

Nate's son, Dwayne.

- I prefer to do that myself.

- Might be better coming from a local.

- I'd say bad news is bad news.

Care to join me, Detective Sims?

(mellow twangy acoustic music) - Do you always talk to the deceased?

- You have a problem with that?

- Seems inappropriate.

They're dead.

- Recently.

Not already forgotten, I hope.

They're still loved ones, personalities.

- Feels like you were teasing him.

- 80% of all homicide victims- - Know the identity of their killer?

- You can bet that it's a secret they want to reveal.

Our job is to help 'em do it.

- We don't know it was a homicide.

- [Mike] Do you like country and western music?

- No.

- You're just saying that.

- No, I really don't.

- Come on, they're the best three minute crime stories ever sung.

There's heartache, adultery, jealousy, divorce, death.

It's all in there.

You prefer country blues?

- No.

- Country rock?

- No!

- Look, you're gonna love this one.

(mellow country music) - You have cassettes.

(mellow country music continues) ♪ When you won me over ♪ ♪ You took my heart ♪ ♪ One wasn't enough ♪ (car door slamming) (gun fires) - Should we call for backup?

- Backup?

(gun fires) That can be embarrassing.

Besides, my car doesn't have a radio.

- What?

(gun fires) I have a phone.

(gun fires) (objects shattering) - Police!

Oye!

- Geez, I... - Whoa, whoa!

Can you put that thing down?

- Sorry, I was just getting my eye, and I've got a license for it.

- Still want backup?

Dwayne, isn't it?

I'm Detective Inspector Shepherd.

This is Detective... - Sims.

- [Dwayne] Yeah.

- Hi, Dwayne.

- I can get that license if- - Dwayne, have you seen your father today?

- Well, no, but he's still asleep.

- Through all your target practice?

- He's a heavy sleeper.

- Dwayne, I'm afraid to tell you, a body's been found at the river.

The body's been identified as your father.

- He...

He's not.

I thought he was... - Please, take a seat there, Dwayne.

- Jesus, no.

- Nate Dunn's body's been found at the river.

It looks like suicide.

- Oh my God.

- And truth be known, Jacinta, I'm glad.

It's over now.

How about I come in and make you a cup of tea, eh?

(slow western music) - Dad wouldn't kill himself.

- You sound very confident about that.

- The farm's in good shape, prices have been good.

He was happy.

There was even a letter he got a couple of days ago that cheered him up too.

- What letter?

- I don't know, he was always getting letters, but he was happy, he was in a real good place, you know?

- For the record, where were you last night?

- I was with my girlfriend, Sally.

Her place.

Got back here around 6 this morning.

- Been doing a bit of renovating?

I know.

DIY is never my strong point either.

- It's not me you should be looking at, Have you spoken to Phillip Henderson?

- Neighbor.

- Why should I do that?

- He hated my father.

- Mind if we have a look around?

(tense ominous music) (tense ominous music continues) We'll need to take some of this stuff to the station, Dwayne.

- But it's not a crime scene, right?

So, why?

- We need to find out what happened to your dad.

Maybe the answer is in here as much as out there.

- I don't know.

- Tell you what.

We'll photograph the rooms in detail, but we'll have to take the stuff.

Otherwise, Detective Sims here will have to work through it on site.

That could take quite some time.

Good?

- [Kristin] Sure.

(soft acoustic music) (soft acoustic music continues) - Dwayne, November the 17th, was that your parents' wedding anniversary?

- Um, no, that's the way Dad asked her to marry him.

That bloody river.

- Today's the 18th.

Oh, this Phillip Henderson.

I'll talk to him, okay?

You don't need to do that.

- As long as you don't stuff it up.

It's not like 10 years ago.

- I'll do my best not to stuff it up, Dwayne.

- It was a hit and run.

Dwayne's mother, Evelyn, that's Nate's wife, was run down on Jameson Road.

- 10 years ago?

- Yes.

- Cold case?

- Yeah.

And it was clear from the evidence at the scene, that she was on the grass verge when she was run down.

Car involved swerved and deliberately knocked her down.

- So, it's an unsolved murder?

- Yes.

- What else?

- There were rumors of spousal abuse in the family.

Evelyn was seen bruised on occasion.

Nate was an ugly drunk.

- [Mike] So between you and me, Nate killed her.

- I just couldn't prove it.

- Two murders, 10 years apart.

- Nate Dunn's death could have been suicide.

- No, he didn't go to that bridge to kill himself.

- And you're sure because... - Because he was murdered.

- Just what are you doing in Brokenwood?

- Just bringing the field into field crime inspector, Gary.

Flashy title, gotta earn my keep.

- I've got an appointment.

Just call me if you need anything.

- There are hundreds of bits of paper here.

Copies of letters written by Nate Dunn.

- He copied letters he sent to people?

- It'll take time to go through it.

- Yeah.

- But the note found on Nate matches his handwriting.

DC Breen here corroborated Dwayne's alibi.

- Ah, good day.

Sam Breen.

- Sam, Mike.

- Yeah, Dwayne's girlfriend Sally Clive says he was with her, so.

- Okay.

- I dug this out for you.

It's the file on that old hit and run case involving Nate's wife.

Considerable evidence was collected at the scene.

Glass fragments from headlights, tire impressions, flecks of paint.

Metallic gray.

Although it was hard to determine what shade of metallic it was exactly.

All manufacturers use different names.

Liquid Gray, Mountain Shadow Gray, Galaxy Shadow, Platinum Gray.

Apparently there are many shades of... Gray.

Yeah, well.

I get the impression there were no strong leads.

- Plenty of unsolicited statements from people in the town.

- Most of them point to Nate without providing any evidence.

- "Common knowledge beat her regularly."

- There's no record of her ever making a complaint.

- Gary was the investigating officer?

- Yeah.

Oh, and that list... Not everything that's supposed to be there is in the box.

(phone rings) Sims.

Yeah.

It's Phillip Henderson, he's back at his place.

Yeah.

Thanks, Mr. Henderson, we'll be right over.

Should we go?

- [Mike] I'm good.

- What?

I don't mind.

- No, no, as you say, that's gonna take some time.

(soft acoustic music) - This place is 100% organic.

Certified.

And that's not an easy status to get or keep.

Especially when Nate Dunn made a habit of spraying his pesticides whenever the wind was blowing my way.

- Deliberately?

- Yeah.

Didn't give a stuff.

- Nice coffee.

Organic?

(Phillip chuckles) - No.

- So, Phillip, did you kill him?

(Phillip laughs) - You're talking about the altercation in the pub?

- There was an altercation?

- Yeah.

Nate was drunk, surprise, surprise.

And when he's drunk, he usually... Well, at least once a year, brings up his theory about something going on between me and his late wife.

- And was there?

- [Phillip] I'm not even gonna dignify that with an answer.

- Go on, dignify it.

- I was not involved with Evelyn Dunn.

Yeah, we were good friends, but not lovers.

Even if Nate was raving last night about blowing the lid on everything.

- What does that mean?

- Who knows?

- [Mike] Nice camera.

Did you take these?

- Yeah.

It's something of a hobby.

- [Mike] Brokenwood is a nice place to photograph.

- Yeah, it is.

- A nice place in general.

So, who here would want to kill Evelyn Dunn?

- 10 years ago, I would've thought Nate killed her.

- And now?

- I don't know.

I can tell you what I told Gary back then.

Evelyn came to me that night.

Evelyn.

(thunder rumbles) Nate used to beat her when he was drunk.

- I'm sorry.

- [Phillip] Everyone knew that.

- I don't wanna be in pain.

- [Phillip] That night she came to me, just to talk to a friend.

(thunder rumbles) I'll admit, I tried to talk her into leaving him, but- - I should go.

- [Phillip] She wouldn't do that.

Anyway, she thought he'd be asleep when she got home, so...

It was safe to go back.

- Thank you.

I mean it.

- She refused a lift.

Didn't wanna be a burden.

(tense ominous music) And that was the last time I saw her alive.

(tense ominous music continues) I was the one that found her the next morning.

I thought someone had just dumped something in a blanket.

It looked like a small bundle or... (ominous music) - Where were you last night, Phillip?

(Phillip chuckles) - I would rather not say.

- I'd rather not insist.

- I was with someone.

A woman, at her place, all night.

- And does this woman have a name?

- Yes.

- "Yes" being her first or last name?

- Come on, mate, it's a small town.

You gotta be discreet.

You understand?

- Okay.

But depending on what other details emerge, I may need to know the name of your friend, small town or not.

- It won't come to that.

I have got nothing to hide.

- Apart from the identity of your friend.

(soft acoustic music) Hmm.

Thank you.

It's been enlightening.

(soft acoustic music) - There is one other person you should talk to.

Jacinta O'Connor.

- So this would be your friend?

- Not my type.

Mary more Gary McLeod's.

(soft acoustic music continues) (tense music) (car door slams) - Did they find anything?

- [Dwayne] No.

- Are you sure?

They've been in your father's room.

- Sally, calm down.

- Do you realize what's at stake here if they find evidence- - I didn't let them take everything.

(beer bottle clanks) - It's a bit early for that, isn't it?

- Well, I need something, don't I?

- Is it bad?

- Yeah, it's real bad.

What are you gonna do about it?

- I can't deal with this right now.

- You're just gonna bugger off?

- I have to go back to work.

You can't let them find anything, Dwayne.

You just can't.

(tense music) - [Jacinta] Nate Dunn killed my sister.

Even if the police couldn't prove it.

- You seem very sure.

- The whole community was sure.

- So, tell me about Evelyn.

- Mm...

Younger, prettier.

Evelyn had everything to live for, and he took that all away.

Now the coward's taken his own life, it's pathetic and upsetting.

- Actually, suicide is unlikely.

- You mean this is a murder investigation?

- Still waiting on autopsy.

- I'll try to help, but policemen are hardly my favorite people.

- Not even Gary McLeod?

- Especially silly Gary McLeod.

He stuffed up Evelyn's case.

Why would I expect anything different from you?

Excuse me if I'm being too blunt.

- I have no problem with blunt.

- Excellent.

I need to be somewhere.

Can you give me a lift?

- There's blunt and then there's cheeky.

- [Jacinta] We can talk on the way.

- Yeah, it's lost a little cushioning over the years, but it's a small price to pay for originality.

- If you say so.

- They don't make them like this anymore.

- Yeah, there's a reason for that.

You said blunt was good?

- Mm.

You like country music?

(cassette tape rattles) (country music plays) - Oh, really?

- So, who in Brokenwood had a motive for murder?

- Oh, nearly everyone.

♪ Everywhere we can't afford ♪ ♪ The days, the nights, the love and lights ♪ ♪ Seems it don't add up to evil much ♪ ♪ But all the tears I ♪ - [Mike] As Dwayne's auntie, do you manage to stay close?

- He was only 15 when my sister died, and it hit him really hard.

Yeah, he got the best of his mother, but sadly the worst of his father as well.

So, no.

Since Evelyn's death, it's been awkward, I'll admit.

You like it?

I bought her six months ago.

- Farming, eh?

I'm in the wrong game.

Are you away for long?

- I'm in Hawke's Bay for business, back in a couple of days.

- Nate made a comment to Phillip Henderson.

He mentioned blowing the lid on something.

Any idea what he was referring to?

- With Nate, who knows?

Maybe jumping off a bridge was Nate's way of confessing to murdering my sister.

If it with suicide.

- As I said, unlikely.

Oh, and before I forget, for the record... Last night?

- I was home, alone... All night.

(mellow acoustic music) (mellow acoustic music continues) (phone rings) - Sims.

- [Mike] Kristin.

- Where are you?

- Uh, just seeing a woman about a plane.

Dwayne Dunn's girlfriend... - Yeah, Sally Clive's her name.

- Ah, that's it.

Hey, where would I find her?

(plane buzzes) (cell phone rings) - Hey.

Just stay where you are.

(phone faintly rings) What do you want?

- Sal.

- You can't just turn up like this.

I can't do it, not today.

- You have to.

- No, I don't have to do anything.

- What's done is done.

What difference does it make now?

- I crossed a line, Dwayne, but if we keep our heads down, it might be okay.

- Just do it, Sally!

- Everything okay?

- Yeah, she's fine.

No worries.

- You sure about that?

- Yeah, everything's cool.

- Okay, I think Sally could do with a bit of space, Dwayne.

Go home.

Cool off a bit, eh?

What was the argument about, Sally?

- Just relationship stuff.

Dumb stuff, you know?

- Oh, yeah.

Tricky business.

Just ask my ex-wife.

All three or four of them.

(Mike chuckles) Still, Dwayne's just lost his father, you'll maybe have to cut him a bit of slack.

- Yeah, it's a crap time.

- The bouncer at the pub mentioned that him and Nate exchanged words on the night he died.

- There's nothing unusual about that.

He disapproved of me.

Dwayne drove him home, left me at the pub.

Can you believe it?

- And later, did you see Nate again?

- No.

- Dwayne?

- Yes.

I left the pub, walked home.

He brought me some flowers.

Sometimes he can be a sweet guy.

He slept the night at my place.

- Why did Nate disapprove of you?

- He disapproved of everything.

- Everything, wow.

That's big.

- He was a sad, paranoid old man.

- In what way?

Was he a guy who had a few conspiracy theories, or was he the type who saw men in white coats climbing out of his Cornflakes?

- He imagined things.

- That ticks both boxes.

- He just didn't like me.

He didn't like anybody.

- Except his wife.

- Well, he had a funny way of showing it.

- So, was Dwayne capable of killing his father?

- I really can't answer that.

(mellow country music) (mellow country music continues) - Hey.

- I didn't think I'd see you again.

I thought that was part of the deal.

- I was in town.

Saw you...

Thought I shouldn't, then I did.

- Why are you here?

- In Brokenwood?

Work.

How are the kids?

- Justin?

- You like it here?

- Too bad if I don't, right?

It's not exactly the Gold Coast, but it'll have to do, I guess.

- But you're making friends?

- I meet people through the kids' school and stuff.

- You seeing anyone?

- Is that any of your business?

- No.

But it's all part of moving on.

New beginnings and all that.

- Nah, it's just me and the kids.

I still have that old cassette that you gave me.

- Patsy Cline.

- I never thought I'd admit this, but...

I actually listened to it.

It's so sad it makes me smile.

- Country music will do that to you.

(cell phone rings) (soft country music) I...

I have to go.

Take care, Tania.

(soft country music continues) - You found me.

- You don't make it easy.

Do you own this?

- Well, the bank does.

10 acres.

Foreign grape.

That's supposed to be the retirement plan.

- Supposed to be?

- Well, price of grapes aren't what they used to be.

Market's oversupplied.

Hence, I never got around to building the dream house.

- Still pretty nice.

- Every morning, it reminds me.

I'm well behind on my mortgage payments.

- Things that bad?

- Well, when you're due to retire, the banks don't wanna bloody know you.

- Autopsy report.

It's definitely homicide.

- So you were right.

- Yeah, blow to the head.

He was dead before he hit the water.

- What'd they use?

- It's all in here.

- I'll take your word for it.

(Gary coughs) You want one or are you still on duty?

- No.

But don't let me stop you.

- I won't.

Need something to take the edge off.

Bit of a crap day.

- Going through the files on that hit and run, there seems to be a few items missing.

- Ah.

This will be them.

Burned me.

My biggest failure.

Evelyn's sister Jacinta calls me incompetent, she's probably right.

The evidence was compromised.

The seal on one of the bags was open before it reached the crime lab, paint samples went missing for a week.

- Did you screw up?

- We did our best.

- Sounds like you screwed up.

- And all your cases go perfectly?

Sometimes things just don't go your way.

In this case, everything went pear shape.

These are the photos from the crime scene.

Someone, whoever it was that did it, laid her out very carefully.

As if they were trying to make her comfortable.

Guilt, maybe.

(Gary coughs) - [Mike] You okay there?

- I go through them from time to time, hoping to connect something I didn't connect before.

It's a hard one to let go of, Mike.

- I can see that.

- What about Nate Dunn?

- Nothing yet.

Dwayne and Sally have given each other alibis.

Everyone else was at home, alone.

No witnesses.

- I was home all night too.

Alone.

That's life in Brokenwood.

- Actually, Phil Henderson said he was with someone.

A woman.

- [Gary] That figures.

- Why's that?

- Well, he's usually got a couple on the go.

Farmer, single, well off.

Living the dream.

Or do you think he's lying?

- Has anyone else seen this material?

- I've shown it to Jacinta O'Connor a couple of times.

The case was cold, Mike.

I just wanted to reassure her.

Didn't work.

She never lets me forget that.

(car door slams) (tense ominous music) (tense ominous music continues) - Sal?

Hello?

Come on, Sal, this isn't funny.

(ominous music continues) (Dwayne grunts) (slow country music) (slow country music continues) (people chattering) - Good morning.

- Ever come across a Tania Freeman?

Part Maori, late 30s, two kids?

- She lives in Brokenwood?

- [Mike] Last 12 months.

- She's never come up on my radar.

Why?

- No reason.

- Well, how could I know her?

Or anyone?

I have no life.

I've been going through 10 years of correspondence from Nate Dunn.

I was here till 3:00 a.m. You could've at least bought me a coffee.

(soft mysterious music) (soft mysterious music continues) (gun fires) (air sprays) (intense music) - [Dwayne] You bastard!

(intense music continues) - Car manufacturers, mesh repairers, hire car companies, the police.

Nate Dunn has been trying to find the car that hit his wife for 10 years.

- Hardly the actions of a guilty man.

- But of an obsessive man, yes.

Mike, it's meticulous.

Every clue he followed up, every lead he chased down, like he was some sort of frustrated detective.

- Or a bloody good one.

- The thing is, there are no replies here.

Just copies of every letter he sent out.

- So he wasn't getting anywhere.

- Replies must exist.

Somewhere secure maybe?

(phone rings) (files slamming) - Here's the other material from that hit and run file.

Gary had it.

(phone rings) Can you- - You want me to look through this to.

- Mm.

- Shots fired at the Henderson place.

(sirens blaring) (catchy country music) - Were you hit?

- Nearly, no.

These are splinters from... Look at my bloody tire.

I could've been killed.

- Did you give a clear look at the person that fired the shots?

- Yeah.

Yeah, it was Dwayne Dunn.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah, he was trying to hide.

He just took off that way, towards his place.

- How long for armed defenders?

- Two, maybe three.

Come on, we'll do it with our guys.

(catchy country music) - [Kristin] Let's go.

(siren blares) (bottle smashes) (gun fires) (catchy country music) (Kristin grunts) - When everyone's ready.

Dwayne.

How are you, fella?

You got a thing against Letterboxes, Dwayne?

- Nah.

Got a thing against bastards though.

- I bet.

Can you put the gun down?

Much easier to talk without it.

- Nah.

- The thing is... Well, two things.

Firstly, you keep waving that around, you're gonna get yourself shot.

Secondly, that's a Holden Kingswood.

1971, all original.

- Yeah, it's sweet as.

- Yeah, I think so.

I'd really hate to see a hole in it.

Messes with the resale value.

Sure, it may add a certain gangster mystique charm, but I don't wanna sell.

So Dwayne, there's...

There's been a misunderstanding, and we're gonna have to talk about that.

- Phillip Henderson was in my house last night.

- Doing what?

- Robbing the place.

I thought you were gonna do something about him.

- If you wanna press charges, you have to fill out some forms.

You'll need two hands for that.

- He was going through my father's room, and he hit me.

He was having an affair with my mother, 10 years ago.

- All important information, Dwayne.

Thank you.

- And he killed her.

So I wanted him to know that I know.

That everyone knows.

- Don't fire.

Just relax, everyone.

(tense music) Okay.

Well, I think Phillip got the message, Dwayne.

And there's no reason for any of this.

There's no reason for anyone to get hurt.

Especially me, right?

(tense music continues) I wanna find a way out of this, Dwayne, and the way out of it is, that you give me the gun, and we talk about everything that's bugging you.

How's that work for you, mate?

Just give me the gun, so that all of us can go away.

- [Kristin] Go!

Go, go, go!

(gun parts clacking) (soft acoustic music) - Take him back into town.

- You okay?

- Someone was after something in Nate's room last night.

- But we've already considered everything in there.

- Maybe we haven't.

(mellow acoustic music) - Did you get him?

- Dwayne is in custody.

- Good.

Hope you lot throw the damn book at him.

- Phillip, were you snooping around Nate's place last night?

- No, why?

- Dwayne was attacked by someone, thought it was you.

- Well, I wasn't.

I've never even been to the place.

Why would I?

- Well, I'm hoping you could tell me that.

- Okay, this is ridiculous.

Where were you last night, Phillip?

Another sleepover?

Same woman?

- Ah... That would be telling.

- Perhaps I already know.

- How?

- Small town.

Tell me it was the same woman.

- How is that any of your business?

- It is.

In ways that you can only imagine.

(soft acoustic music) (cell phone rings) - Shepherd.

- Never phone, you never write.

Is it something I said?

(Mike chuckles) - Guess I'm on Brokenwood time.

- [Hughes] Talk to me about Gary McLeod.

- It's as you suspected.

- Meaning exactly?

- He's not big on detail.

- [Hughes] Time for him to go?

- Well, maybe he just needs some time off.

- Are you saying he's overworked in Brokenwood?

Please.

- The Dunn case.

- The one he never closed?

- [Mike] Yeah, it had a toll.

He took it personally, too personally.

- And the new Dunn case?

Are you making progress?

(mellow acoustic music) You there?

- I'd have more of a chance if you didn't want to gossip like an old woman all day.

- Keep me posted.

And I mean that, Mike.

No surprises.

(mellow acoustic music continues) (Mike knocks) (slab clanks) (mellow acoustic music continues) Tricky bugger.

- [Kristin] The replies to Nate's letters.

- Mm.

Replies from panel beaters, hire car companies, spray painters.

He was relentless.

It took him years, but Nate managed to find two panel beaters that did repairs to cars with metallic gray codes.

Specifically, G7 Gunpowder Gray, within the time frame.

- But Gary checked with all the car repairers.

- Locally, yes.

Gary was very thorough in a kinda 50k radius kinda way.

But Nate, Nate went nationwide.

He never gave up.

- So the car was a Ford.

- Mm.

Ford Falcon XT.

A hire car.

The hire company had destroyed the records from the time, so Nate couldn't determine who hired it.

- Oh, he'd be so close.

- What if he did solve it?

What if the letter he received, the one that Dwayne said made him so happy, was the final piece in the puzzle.

- This is what Phillip Henderson was looking for.

- Mr. Henderson says he's never been inside Nate's house.

- Well, what if he's lying?

- He was with someone last night.

- Who?

- Someone you don't know.

- Okay, so then, who knocked Dwayne senseless looking for these?

- That remains the question.

- I'm guessing you want me to look through this?

- Hmm.

Oxycodone.

Heavy stuff.

No name on the packet.

- No, but clearly Nate's.

- Maybe.

Any prescriptions in his possessions?

- No.

- Has Dwayne been processed?

- Yeah, charged.

He's in the cells.

Probably not sober yet.

Court appearance set for tomorrow.

- I also found this.

- Password protected.

- Get it to the lab.

(mellow country music) Detective Inspector Shepherd.

Is Sally available for a quick chat?

- I'm sorry, she's already left.

Can I help?

- Ah, it's not urgent.

I'll catch up with her tomorrow.

(mellow country music) (mellow country music continues) (Mike knocks) (engine hums) - Good day.

No one home.

- So it would seem.

You always drive like that?

- So it would seem.

- Detective Inspector- - Shepherd, I know.

I've seen the car around town, bro.

This the '71 model?

- Ah, you're familiar.

- Well, they really should've put a V8 engine into it, eh?

- Oh, you are familiar.

- Jared Morehu.

Neighbor.

- Technically, I'm still on duty.

- Well, technically, I don't give a rats.

- Another time?

- Refusing my kai?

Technically, that's culturally offensive.

- Then technically I'm due a smoke.

- Gary's usually around at this time of the day.

He enjoys a beer, but I guess we'll have to wait.

- How long you lived in Brokenwood, Jared?

- I was born here.

- You know everybody in town?

- Everyone worth knowing.

- What do you think of Philip Henderson?

- He'll screw anything that walks.

Not judging or anything.

- Dwayne Dunn.

- Bit of an enigma wrapped in a puzzle.

Yeah, that's Dwayne.

- Gary McLeod.

- Ah, Gary's a real good guy.

- Nate Dunn.

- Probably murdered his wife.

- And if I said I don't think he did?

- Well then, I guess somebody got away with murder.

- What exactly do you do, Jared?

Apart from drive like a maniac.

- Oh, bit of this, a bit of that.

It's a great place that Gary's got here, eh?

Oye!

The late Gary McLeod.

- I see you two have bonded.

That's nice for you.

- Oh, bro, what's happened?

- The bank's foreclosed on me.

- Oh!

- They won't renegotiate the loan.

I've known Barry Tremaine for 20 years.

They're selling this place out from under me.

- Hey.

And you know what you should do?

Is rob the bank and use their money to pay for it.

(Jared chuckles) That'll show them.

Probably not an actual option, but just saying, aye?

- Hey, could you give us a minute?

Gary, you've been missing all the action.

Or should I say missing in action?

- Yeah, sorry.

Tough day.

- Dwayne Dunn's in the cells.

Firearms incident this morning.

Shots fired.

He's dug himself quite a hole.

- Things have livened in town since you arrived.

- Gary, is there something you want to tell me?

- Mike...

I think it may be a good idea if I'm not in the loop.

You know.

I've got baggage with this stuff.

With you here, what do you need me for?

- Then take a couple of days off.

- I might just do that.

(mellow acoustic music) - Thanks for the beer.

- Chur.

(acoustic music continues) ♪ Your eyes, they swim in alcohol ♪ ♪ With this tomb you're leaving ♪ ♪ Mhm, time that I was gone ♪ (camera shutter snaps) (trunk slams) (acoustic music continues) ♪ Search me until ♪ (tense music) (tense music continues) (Sally gasps) - Jesus!

- Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

Oh, well, actually, I did.

You see, when you creep around people's houses in the dark, well, it's kinda weird, really.

- I was looking for Dwayne.

- Really?

In Nate's room?

When he's in custody, as you know.

Or...

Were you Looking for this?

Am I gonna find your fingerprints on this, Sally?

- Probably.

- This was found in Nate's possession, even though he wasn't prescribed anything of this nature.

- Typical.

He'd keep it as something to have over me.

They're for Dwayne.

- But not prescribed for Dwayne.

- I met Dwayne when he was a patient about 18 months ago.

He'd had a farm accident, multiple leg fractures.

He got totally hooked on those, and started hassling me for more.

- So you stole 'em for him?

- I just wanted to help him.

Then I said I wouldn't do it again, and that's what our argument was about.

- [Mike] So Nate obviously knew?

- He said he was onto me.

- He could have ended your career, couldn't he?

But he didn't.

- I can't explain it.

(soft acoustic music) - We're gonna have to sort this out down the station, Sally.

Yeah.

Bring the car up.

(soft acoustic music continues) I suppose you're involved in Gary McLeod's treatment.

- Gary?

No, he's an outpatient.

However, he may.

- How's he handling it?

- As well as any of us, I suppose.

I mean, how would you feel if you found out you had terminal cancer?

(melancholic acoustic music) (mellow acoustic music) (mellow acoustic music continues) - I bought your coffee.

- Wow.

Not even secondhand.

Nice work on Dwayne's girlfriend, by the way.

- Thanks.

- I figured you out.

- [Mike] You have?

- I have.

- Well, you've succeeded where so many ex-wives didn't.

- So many.

How many have you got?

You're not looking for help from me.

You've got me reading through all this so I can see that Gary botched the original investigation.

- Partly true.

- What right have you to waste my time?

- If I told you that Gary botched everything, would you have believed me?

I need us to look at everything, especially the hit and run, from a completely fresh perspective, unencumbered by loyalty.

- This was in the old file.

Gary's handwriting.

Nate made a complaint.

Accused Phillip Henderson of stealing his coat.

- Is there a date on that?

- A week after Evelyn died.

- This is in a formal document.

Do we have any record whether he followed up on this?

- Not that I can see.

- [Mike] Mr. Henderson, Mike Shepherd.

- Yeah, what is it?

- That final night Evelyn Dunn visited you... - [Phillip] Yeah?

- Was she wearing an oil skin coat?

(thunder rumbles) - Yeah.

Yeah, she was.

- [Mike] You sound sure.

- Yeah, I remember.

She looked kind of ridiculous in it.

It was too big for her.

(thunder rumbles) She probably slung on Nate's or Dwayne's or something.

- And that next morning when you found her, what was she wearing?

(ominous music) - She was only wearing a dress.

- The coat wasn't nearby?

- [Phillip] No, no.

No, I would've seen it.

- Did anyone ever question you about that coat?

- I don't think so.

How- - Thanks.

On another matter, how would you feel about dropping the complaint against Dwayne Dunn?

- [Phillip] He was trying trying to kill me.

- Threatening to kill.

He just lost his father.

He's affected by medication.

He's an emotional wreck for lots of reasons.

Not the least of which is the belief that his mother was having an affair with you when she died.

- [Phillip] Yeah, okay.

That's a completely baseless accusation.

- [Mike] Is it?

- Yeah, I did not sleep with Evelyn, I swear.

(car door slams) - But you wanted to.

And it's always a very messy business when the details of someone's love life get played out in court.

It's a small town, remember?

(ominous music) - Yeah.

The cancer spread from my lungs to the other organs.

They're saying six months.

I think they're optimistic.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

- Not as sorry as I am, I'll bet.

Do you want one?

- No.

- 10 years ago, a few days after the hit and run, Nate Dunn reported a missing coat.

- An old oil skin or something, yeah.

- You ever follow up on it?

- No.

Nate thought that Phillip Henderson had stolen it.

He was a paranoid.

Probably in a cupboard somewhere.

- But you never followed up on it.

- It didn't seem important.

Nate was a drunk.

- Everything's important until it isn't.

- Are you suggesting something?

- You dropped the ball, Gary.

Evidence compromised, leads not followed up.

- It was a coat!

- A coat that Evelyn was wearing that night.

(Gary coughs) What if the person that killed her thought they were killing Nate?

And if that's true, they then remove the evidence that pointed to that.

(Gary coughs) I'm sorry.

- Don't apologize for doing your job.

I'm sorry, you're right.

- You need to lay off that stuff.

Can't be helping.

- What does it matter now?

- Thank you, Detective Shepherd.

It's not every day somebody turns up to help me park my plane.

You're quite the gentleman.

So, is it business or pleasure?

- I thought you might need a ride back home, since I dropped you here.

- [Jacinta] So no country music today?

- You can have too much of a good thing.

Here's a random question.

- So it is business.

- Do you ever remember Evelyn wearing an oil skin coat?

- No.

Never.

- You seem very sure.

- It wasn't her style.

Why?

- [Mike] Just following up a lead.

- A lead you won't tell me about?

- Correct.

- She was my sister, Detective.

- Yes, she was.

It was a tragedy.

♪ Benny was a mother to a ♪ ♪ He went to town ♪ ♪ Red-faced mama's come a' knocking on his door ♪ - For the record, I never asked where you were on the night Evelyn died.

- I was in Palmerston North for the three days prior at a farming conference.

I cut my trip short when I heard the news, but... Then my original statement to that effect would be in the file, wouldn't it?

♪ Then started diggin' in the ground ♪ - Thanks for the lift.

♪ Then started diggin' in the ground ♪ ♪ Three pound, rain pouring downtown ♪ - What the hell did you say to Gary?

- Uh- - He just called.

He sent his resignation into head office, effective immediately.

- Oh.

- In fact, I don't care what you said.

You need to know, I am sick of this lone wolf, corpse whisperer crap.

You barge in here, take over.

You don't need me, you don't need help.

Good luck.

- I can't take that.

- And why?

Is it beneath you?

- My hands are full.

- I already have one.

- Silly me.

That'll teach me for not being very observant, being too caught up in my own lone wolf crap.

You're right, I should have been more... - Inclusive is the word you're struggling with.

- Yes.

- So, you're saying "I'm sorry".

- Yes.

- Well?

- [Mike] What?

- You haven't actually said it yet.

- Gary has cancer.

Terminal.

- Oh my God.

Damn.

Poor Gary.

How did you- - I kinda stumbled upon it when I was making inquiries at the hospital.

I thought it might be relevant to the case, therefore I thought you should know.

- Relevant how?

- I said it might be.

Anyways, all the more reason to get a result for Gary.

Come on.

I've had a thought.

(car door slams) - Oh, yeah?

I'll just follow you then.

- [Mike] Lie down.

- How long have we known each other?

(Kristin chuckles) This isn't very comfortable.

(Mike chuckles) - Look up.

It's a natural amphitheater here.

The slope stops the light from Brokenwood interfering with that.

You gotta imagine it's night.

And November the 17th.

The Leonids meteor shower.

- The Leonids meteor shower.

- November the 17th.

Every year, without fail.

Meteors.

In a good year, up to two every minute.

Every year, Nate and Evelyn walked over here from the farm.

Perfect place to watch it.

- How do you know?

- Remember, Dwayne told us that Nate proposed to her here.

Imagine these two youngsters.

Happy, in love.

This was their special place there.

Anniversary place.

Meteorites.

Nate was a collector.

- And November 17 was the night he died.

- You got it.

Someone knew he would be coming here that night.

- What?

Who would even know that?

Apart from Dwayne.

- Whoever did is Nate's killer.

(mellow acoustic music) (cell phone beeps) - Dwayne Dunn has been released on bail.

Seems the threatening to kill charge against Henderson has been downgraded to firearms offenses.

- Any conditions on bail?

- He's to reside with Jacinta O'Connor.

- The loving aunt.

(keys jingling) (mellow acoustic music) - I know this must seem a bit odd, it's like we're strangers, but I never meant it to be like that.

- You and Dad didn't get on.

- Well, I wasn't alone there.

Nate was a difficult man.

It must have been really hard on you.

- It wasn't.

- Dwayne...

He's gone.

There's no reason for you to be scared anymore.

- I loved my dad.

I know everyone used to think he beat my mother.

He only got violent when he drank too much.

You have no idea how much he loved Mom.

- Dwayne, I want us to be close.

I know he beat, so you don't need to be- - He never beat me!

(tense music) It was me.

I used to lose control, lash out.

Blind rage, they called it.

Mom was so embarrassed.

She wanted to protect me.

Didn't wanna be the mother of the uncontrollable son.

That was our big family secret.

- Oh my God.

- So Dad copped the blame.

But now they're both gone.

Doesn't matter so much, does it?

(tense music) I'm gonna go see Sal.

(mellow acoustic music) (Kristin laughs) - Morning.

So, what are our lines of inquiry today?

- Mm, inclusive.

- Too much?

Am I overdoing it?

- No, I like it.

- Must be the Brokenwood vibe.

- Vibe?

Wow.

That's hip.

- What?

- Next you'll be saying "groovy".

I won't be able to cope.

- I remember groovy.

- Yesterday you mentioned the Leonids meteor shower.

- [Mike] Mm.

- I found this report.

Nate was picked up five years ago.

Drunk and disorderly.

November 17, on the road.

He told the constable he was going to the river to watch the meteors "Like I do every year".

- This was in Gary's file?

- Yeah.

- He wasn't the arresting officer, but he must've known it was relevant, so he put it in there.

- So Gary knew Nate went there every year.

Has he ever mentioned that?

- No.

- So as we decided yesterday, whoever killed Nate knew he'd be there.

- We didn't decide anything.

- Kristin.

- Don't go there.

Okay?

It's offensive.

- I'm asking for your professional opinion.

I'm sorry.

Gary had reason to blame Nate for his biggest failure.

He felt he'd gotten away with murder.

He's dying of cancer and he's got nothing more to lose.

Are you telling me that there's no way he could've killed Nate Dunn?

Be objective.

Take away the personal.

What do you see?

- It's possible, but highly un... - It's got a bit more complicated up here.

There might be a serving member involved.

- McLeod?

Hell, are you sure?

- No.

I'm just giving you a heads up.

- Jesus, I thought I said no surprises.

What a PR nightmare!

- I'm just flagging it.

- I'll get communications up to you pronto.

- No, too soon.

- [Hughes] Mike, if this isn't contained, it'll be made to look even worse than it is.

- Don't send Wilmott.

(knocking) - [Hughes] Well, like it or not- - This was left at the front desk.

- [Hughes] Wilmott is our senior media advisor.

What choice do I have?

- Yeah, yeah.

Does it have to be Wilmott?

- Get over it.

And buckle yourself in.

- So, I just give her my station?

- She's the head of media communications.

She likes things a certain way.

When she arrives, I want you to go through all this with her.

- Everything?

- Piece by piece.

- So, I'm distracting her.

- I like to think of it more as getting her up to speed.

- While distracting her.

- Yeah.

I'll leave you to it.

- But... And where will you be?

"Oh no, don't worry."

I know, out.

- Sally!

Thought you'd be over this place.

- I wanted to say thank you.

- I had reason to believe it was a momentary lapse of judgment.

Don't let me down.

- Never again, I promise.

You said to tell you when I had the answer.

- About Dwayne?

Could he have killed his dad?

(tense music) Oh, no.

- He gets mad sometimes.

Really crazy mad.

- You have to lay a complaint.

- He needs help.

I can't help him anymore.

You woke me up to that.

That's why I wanted to say thank you.

I still don't know the answer.

(tense music) - Breen.

Yeah, get a car over to O'Connor's.

Pull Dwayne Dunn in for a breach of bail.

(mellow country music) - Mike.

How are you, man?

(calming acoustic music) I sold Nate the shotgun a month ago.

- And?

- Well, he never paid me.

I asked him 20 times and nothing.

But the night Nate died, I was at his house.

I went there to take a bat, but I couldn't find it.

(tense music) And they came back earlier then I thought, so I snuck out the back.

- Geez, did you whack Dwayne the other night?

- Nah.

No, I didn't.

- [Mike] But you were there.

- I was at his house.

Dwayne turns up piss stumbling around, tries to whack me with a steel bar, and runs into a doorframe in the process.

(Dwayne thuds) Loses it.

So he's still breathing, needed to sleep it off.

So you mentioned that Dwayne was in jail, I thought, "Now's the chance."

I went back.

He'd hidden it up to chimney.

Tricky bugger.

- You don't say.

So you stole it.

- I repossess for non-payment.

- So, where is it now?

- Kia ora, Ms. Graves.

- A touch of spring in that thing, Jared.

- Yeah, nah, true that, eh?

That's the truth, Mike.

Mr. Shepherd.

I didn't have anything to do with Nate's death.

I promise.

- Why's the gun so important, Jared?

- Okay.

I had never come across this shotgun strictly legally.

If it was found and traced back to me- - Jared, I suggest you hand it over to me.

I'll take care of it.

- Uh... Well, the thing is, it's worth about 800 bucks.

- I'm leading a horse to water here.

Care to take a drink?

- All right, yeah, no.

Yeah, good idea, eh?

- So, who took these?

Clearly the idea was to draw attention to you as a suspect.

- No idea.

- Well, I do actually.

Someone with a flash camera for a start, and it's a really long lens, right?

Phillip Henderson has one.

- Why would Phillip want to- - Ah, he's always been a bit dark on me, bro.

I'm competition, for the ladies.

(Jared chuckles) And the thing is, I was with this chick, Tania Freeman, and the thing is, he likes her too.

But she kind of prefers her coffee black.

You know what I mean?

(Jared chuckles) - Tania Freeman?

- Yeah, you know her?

- In my job, you hear a lot of names.

- Oh.

Interesting chick.

(Jared speaks in foreign language) But she's got an Aussie accent, yet she reckons she's never lived there.

- Bit of an enigma wrapped in a puzzle then.

(Jared chuckles) - Yeah.

Hot though.

- Mm.

Was Tania Freeman with Phillip the night Nate died?

- Yeah, no, she was.

- [Mike] How did you feel about that then?

Easy come, easy go, bro.

Besides, I prefer more than one can in my rock pool, if you know what I mean.

(Jared chuckles) - You're not making this up?

- Dude.

Everything I told you is the truth.

The night Nate died, I was at home.

I wasn't getting any action, so I was in bed by 10.

I remember 'cause I was drifting off to sleep when Gary drove passed at about 10:30, and I was still awake when he came back about half an hour later.

His light's always flash through my window.

You can check with him if you like.

- I already did.

Gary said he was home all night.

Well, he was, except for that half hour.

(tense music) I seen the car when I came back.

- You said you weren't seeing anyone.

- I'm not.

- Phillip Henderson?

- It's just a casual thing, it's over.

- So why'd you lie about it?

- You asked me not to say anything.

- To me?

- To anyone.

- [Mike] And why do you think that is?

- So, he's a player.

Can't a girl have some fun?

- And Jared Morehu?

- Jesus!

Are you spying on me or what?

- Philip Henderson is a suspect in a murder case.

He's been shot at.

Jared is dealing in dodgy firearms.

These guys are the last thing you need in your life right now.

- I really miss Kelvin.

- I know.

And the guys that did that to him are doing a very long stretch in Brisbane.

What you did was incredibly brave.

But witness protection is- - A life sentence.

- And it's probably the only reason that you're still alive.

That your kids have a mother.

You get caught up in this, you get exposed.

You have to move again.

Uproot the kids.

You want that?

Right now, only four people in this town know your true identity.

You, your kids and me.

Let's keep it that way.

(mellow acoustic music) Know who you're getting into bed with.

(mellow acoustic music continues) - [Meredith] Where the hell is Mike Shepherd?

- [Kristin] Your guess is as good as mine.

- I didn't come here to play guessing games, Detective... - Sims.

Sorry.

Can I get you a coffee before we get started?

- He told you to take me through all this, did he?

- Yeah.

He thought it would be a good idea- - He thought it would be a good idea to distract me, Detective Sims.

Please.

I know Mike Shepherd better than you.

I see the name Gary McLeod all over these reports.

Is this the serving Shepherd mentioned?

- As yet, there's no definite proof.

- Where can I find him?

- You were out for half an hour on the night and Nate Dunn died.

Not at home all night, like you said, alone.

You weren't straight with me, Gary.

If I wanna go there and believe me, I don't... You had motive, opportunity, 10 years worth of resentment.

- They sent you, didn't they?

- Who?

- You said, "Our body brought up a flag on the computer."

It wasn't just the body, was it?

It was me.

What are you?

Some kind of bloody cleaner brought in to fix my mess?

- You're sick, that explains a lot.

- Not a lot left after a life in the force.

Not even respect.

- But why did you lie, Gary?

- Because...

I did it.

- [Mike] Did what?

- It was me.

I killed Nate.

Well done.

(Gary coughs) You got me.

(knocking) - In here.

- Mike.

You finally learned to turn your phone on, eh?

Ah.

- Gary, this is Meredith Wilmott.

Senior media advisor.

Meredith, this is DSS Gary McLeod.

- Hello, Gary.

- You lot don't waste time, do you?

- So, what's going on?

- The senior here has just confessed to murdering Nate Dunn.

(tense music) - It's simple.

I killed Nate Dunn because I knew he killed his wife all those years ago.

It's been eating me.

It's probably what gave me the cancer.

- That's why you killed him?

- I'm dying.

It's a chance to right a wrong.

I knew Nate would be going to the bridge that night.

He always did on the 17th.

I drove there.

I parked off the road and waited.

When he arrived, I pushed him off the bridge.

- After you clubbed him with the edge of a tire iron.

- That's right.

- [Mike] And the note?

- Well, I wrote that.

Planted it on him.

I brushed away any telltale foot marks on the bridge and left the scene.

In any case, I wore the same shoes the next day when I examined the crime scene.

So if any prints were found, they wouldn't be suspected.

(Gary coughs) I'm sorry, Kristin, I let you down.

That woman's got her work cut out for her, eh?

- You okay?

- No.

In the three years I've been in Brokenwood, Gary McLeod has taught me more about what it is to be a cop than any.

It just seems impossible.

- [Mike] Full confession.

- Damn.

- Meredith, can you keep a lid on this for now?

- Why would I do that?

- 'Cause I asked you to.

- You know we should front foot, that way I can control it.

- 24 hours.

- [Meredith] If we delay, it looks like we're hiding.

- 12.

- You've got that look in your eye.

You have a hunch.

- Maybe.

- We also have a confession.

- Jesus, Meredith, just gimme a break.

- When you sweet talk like that...

Shouldn't be hard.

Does this place even have a local newspaper?

- Yeah.

The Brokenwood Courier.

- Staff of one, I'm guessing?

- Yeah.

- Well, that journalist is about to chase some wild geese.

Or a possible whale stranding at west, maybe.

- I owe you one.

- Don't make promises you can't keep.

Infuriating though, isn't he?

- He's not conventional.

- I should know.

I was married to him for five years.

Has he played you country music yet?

- Oh, well... (Meredith chuckles) I knew it.

Used to drive me nuts.

(catchy country music) ♪ Winter comes around ♪ ♪ Heart beats slow ♪ ♪ Sails his ocean down ♪ (rock splashes) - Where's Wilmott?

- She's getting coffee.

- Good.

Remember the letter Dwayne said Nate received?

- The one we never found?

- Yeah.

What if it was the CD?

- It's possible.

- Have they cracked the password?

- Not yet.

But I did just get these.

Phone records, for Nate's mobile phone.

- Did I ask for that?

- No, I did.

And it seems on the day he died, Nate called every one of our suspects.

Short calls, all under 30 seconds, one after the other, mid-afternoon.

Jacinta O'Connor, Phillip Henderson, Dwayne, Sally and others too.

- Just assume for a moment that Nate didn't kill his wife.

- I'll tell you why- - [Mike] And that he found out who did, and then he phoned everyone- - I'm gonna blow the lid on- - [Mike] To tell him he knew.

- And everyone that's in this town.

- Is Gary on this list?

- No.

(tense music) - You're covering for someone.

- That's ridiculous.

- You were gone for half an hour, that's barely time to go to the river and back again.

But you actually waiting until Nate got there, then you pushed him off the bridge, and fished around for him in freezing water, until you found him so you could plant a note on him.

A note that matched his handwriting.

Come on, Gary.

All that takes longer than half an hour.

- Obviously, I was there for longer.

- Witness says you were gone for half an hour.

- [Gary] Who?

(Gary coughs) - Did you know that Nate worked out who killed Evelyn?

- It's impossible!

If I couldn't figure it out, how could that drunk bastard?

- He's persistent.

He was waiting till after November the 17th to tell the world.

And I know you didn't kill Nate with a tire iron.

Because he died of wounds consistent with the impact of a wide, flat rock.

If you'd bothered to read the pathologist report, you would've known that.

Somebody, I need some help here!

I need help here!

Somebody, wake it up, wake it up!

Somebody!

It's okay... (Gary gasps) (machine beeps) It's not looking good.

They need to monitor him before making any decisions about treatment.

- Well?

- What?

- You know, you have this way of getting people riled.

Did you push him for more information or what?

What the hell are you doing?

- Well, I was trying to- - Question him again?

- Yes.

To get him to admit that his confession was bogus.

Gary's innocent.

But now, with him in a coma, we need to prove it.

- Mike.

- "The IT guys have cracked the password.

The files have been emailed."

- It's a single file.

PDF attachment.

Looks like some sort of farming magazine.

Scan copy.

Oh, don't tell me this is just an edition Nate missed.

- Kristin, it's 10 years old.

- [Kristin] What, so why- - Stop.

Farming conference.

Jacinta O'Connor mentioned she was at- - Here.

That's her.

(tense music) That's metallic gray.

It's a Falcon.

- And a hire car, look.

- No plate.

(tense music continues) It's one of the three that Nate narrowed it down to.

Oh my God.

- That's the car that killed Evelyn Dunn.

Gary covered for her.

- But why?

At every opportunity she'd insult him.

- Gary felt guilty.

He felt he deserved her insults.

He never caught her sister's killer, and he held a candle for her.

Oh, damn!

I told him Jacinta said she was home all night, the night Nate died.

So if Gary went to Jacinta's that night, half an hour's just long enough to go here and back.

So, he gets there, she's not home, he comes back.

- Then later he finds out that she's lied to you.

- And he thinks he knows why.

(intense guitar music) The tragedy is that Gary thought she cracked, and killed Nate after 10 years of frustration.

- Because of him.

Because he couldn't solve that hit and run.

- Except that wasn't why she killed him.

She killed him to cover up her earlier murder.

- This is Sims.

I need back up, now.

(dramatic acoustic music) - Thanks.

She's gone to the airfield.

(intense guitar music) (tires screeching) - Damn!

- Is that her?

(intense guitar music continues) Come on, come on!

Drive!

- What are you going to do?

- Cut her off.

(tires screeching) (intense guitar music continues) - Uh... You are aware that she's in an airplane?

- Yeah, it's just a small one.

(intense guitar music continues) (tires screeching) (Kristin groans) See, we've got four wheels, right?

She's got three, so... - You're... Insane.

- It's fine, it's fine.

I've done this bef... Well, I haven't, but- - Look out, look out!

(tires screeching) (intense guitar music) (plane buzzes) - Lost her.

- No, she has to take off into the wind.

(intense guitar music continues) Stop!

Police!

(gun cocks) (intense guitar music continues) (tires screeching) (propellers whirring) Get out!

(dramatic guitar music) (sirens blaring) - When did you know?

- About Nate?

- Yeah.

- Only when I found out that you killed Evelyn.

- It was an accident.

- [Mike] An accident that it was Evelyn, you mean?

- Yeah, I came home early from that conference, I was driving and I saw a figure in a coat.

The man that I thought had ruined my sister's life.

So I did what I wanted to do for years.

He called me.

- I have proof.

- To tell me he was gonna tell the world the truth.

Well, I couldn't let that happen.

Even though I know now I was wrong.

I was so damn wrong.

- Wrong about what?

- Ask Dwayne.

- Jacinta O'Connor.

I'm arresting you for the murders of Nate Dunn and Evelyn Dunn.

You have the right to remain silent.

- It's a little late for that.

(mellow acoustic music) - She knew he'd be at the bridge that night, because she'd read Gary's files.

- So she just pushed him off.

- Easy, he was drunk.

Clobbered him with a rock and 10 years of fury.

- And the note?

"I'm sorry?"

- It was in Nate's handwriting.

Maybe it was something that he wrote to Evelyn every year, and dropped it in the water.

(Kristin chuckles) - You make him sound like a romantic.

- Well, anyone who goes to the same spot every year to watch a meteor shower is a romantic.

Trust me.

- Why are we in such a hurry?

- I want to tell Gary.

He's been racked with guilt for 10 years.

He needs to know it's over.

(engine revs) (catchy guitar music) - Gary's been taken into the city.

He's in a bad way.

- We made an arrest.

It wasn't Gary.

- So, the confession?

- He was covering.

Professional guilt, not association.

- That was your hunch.

Just as well, the local journo's on a whale hunt.

This could've been very embarrassing.

- I'll make a trip into town then.

Let Gary know.

- Yeah, you do that.

In his state, it might all seem like a bad dream.

- While I'm down there, I'll be handing in my resignation.

- What?

- I'm quitting the big smoke.

Don't wanna leave my run too late.

- Run for what?

- Good life.

Country air, the vibe.

- [Meredith] Are you mad?

What are you gonna do?

- I'm guessing there'll be a vacancy for the head of the Brokenwood CIB.

- You're totally overqualified.

- I'll probably get it then.

- But you'd have to drop rank.

And why would you do that?

- Why wouldn't I?

(cell phone rings) - Um, hello?

Yeah, Meredith here.

(mellow acoustic music) - How would you feel about that, Detective Sims?

♪ Little heart, it goes slow ♪ - See you tomorrow.

♪ I'm already here, you know ♪ ♪ Over the lake, you see the wind blow ♪ ♪ Through the trees and through the snow ♪ ♪ Winter comes around ♪ ♪ Heart beats slow ♪ ♪ Senses all shut down ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪