While Dash is lending some support to the devastated Chalmers family as they are being evicted from their farm by the bank, her good friend Sam (Samantha) Chalmers alleges that Jock Hennesy, the Bank Manager, has sexually assaulted her.
An outraged Dash promises to do all that she can to bring Jock to justice, but he denies the allegation, explaining he was merely trying to stop her from removing a door from the house. Tom steps in and manages to diffuse the situation without any charges being laid, but Dash is still determined to help her friend, if only with some good advice.
When Tom realises that the rowdy protest against the bank in the form of Sam and her mother setting up camp in the rotunda of the Memorial park was actually a part of Dash's 'good advice', he is not pleased. But he also has some sympathy for the dispossessed farmers, so when Jock Hennesy demands that they be removed, Tom is reluctant to step in; instead he asks Dash to try and talk some sense into her friends. Dash's next bright idea is to organise an auction of the Chalmers' possessions in place of the demonstration. Nick plays the auctioneer and ropes some of the heelers into being dummy bidders - except that they find themselves making some very expensive purchases. Tom even forks out $750 for an old grandfather clock, but when he gets it home he finds that it is locked, so he can't wind it.
Meanwhile Sam's tight-fisted old grandfather has demanded to be allowed to serve goal time instead of paying his parking fines, so he misses the auction. When he finds out that the old clock has been sold, he is extremely upset.
Sam is the major suspect when Jock Hennessy's car is vandalised, but she denies it vigorously. Then Tom reports that his house has been broken into - but mysteriously nothing has been taken.
Later, Dash and the rest of the Heelers feel as if they have been betrayed when they realise that Sam is flashing more cash around town than the auction could possibly have brought in. Dash is forced to have another look at her friend and consider whether or not she was conned into standing up for her. But Dash's continuing investigation into the matter uncovers a buried mystery and a heartbreaking family truth.
Back to the Episode Synopsis Page