Keeping Mum

Episode 5.06 (176)
March 25, 1998
Written by Peter Dick, David Allen
Directed by Russell Burton

PJ and Maggie are on the way to the station when they come across two youths speeding in a stolen car. They pursue, but lose the car over the hill. Cresting the rise, PJ and Maggie find the car crashed into a guardrail; one boy is lying unconscious in the car and the other is staggering around. PJ calls for an ambulance and questions the conscious boy, Dean Hartley. He admits, on record and on tape, to driving the stolen car and accordingly PJ brings him in for questioning. At the station Dean begins to complain of a sore shoulder. Even though PJ wants to keep him in for questioning Tom insists that his injuries be checked out at hospital. When word comes in that Dean has a broken collarbone, the fact that Dean was questioned before being given medical assistance has outraged his parents and Monica Draper arrives to sort out the mess. At the hospital, Dean retracts the statement he gave to PJ at the accident scene and is now claiming that his mate was driving the stolen car — he had nothing to do with the car theft or the chase.

Monica is after blood; she is extremely unhappy with PJ's handling of the case and decides to take control. Dean is brought to the station by his parents for further questioning but events are interrupted by a tousle between Dean's father and PJ. When they finally get to push PLAY on the tape recorder nothing happens — the tape is missing. Everyone present in the room is searched but the tape has vanished. PJ is sure that Dean is behind the theft but can't find the proof he needs.

Meanwhile, Dash has been taking an interest in a young truant, Lucy Street. Her truancy and attitude are clearly cries for attention to her single mother, cries which are ignored. In fact her mother makes it clear to Dash that she is no longer interested in the "inconsiderate little brat"!

Back at the station, PJ and Maggie are piecing together the puzzle of the missing tape. They realise that the one place they didn't check was in Monica Draper's handbag. Monica agrees to the search and it reaps a result that no one really expected, the tape is there. Monica is momentarily shocked but eventually admits to the theft. PJ is unable to believe that Monica would risk her career for nothing; suddenly he goes from being her greatest detractor to her champion. But the secrets that PJ uncovers on his search for the truth are more shocking than he ever imagined.

Following a tip off, Nick and Dash discover Lucy and a few of her friends inhaling the fumes from aerosol cans. When they pursue the girls Lucy collapses, gasping for breath. Dash rushes her to the hospital before contacting Lucy's mother. Once she has ascertained that Lucy isn't going to die she tells Dash that she won't be rushing over to the hospital to see her any time soon. She has other things to do. Dash is left to help Lucy piece her life back together.

Guest Starring: Peta Doodson as Monica Draper, Chris Schlusser as Dean Hartley, Mark Oddie as Ed Hartley, Joan Murray as Linda Hartley, Grant Piro as Tim Ryan, Molly McCaffrey as Lucy Street, Margot Fenley as Fiona Street, Paulene Terry-Beitz as Beth McKinley, Scott Manic as Brod Vickers, Andrew Dunn as Henry Bolton, Raine Dinale as Mrs Vickers

Duration: approximately 45 minutes
Aspect ratio: 4:3 standard
Audio: linear hi-fi/stereo
Size: 403MB
Video format: MPEG-4 (MP4)

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