A piercing scream splits the dawn silence of a leafy, suburban arcadia and Cleaver (Richard Roxburgh) and Barney (Russell Dykstra) are soon defending an IT lecturer accused of severing his neighbour's penis with garden shears after an escalating dispute over a child's birthday party. The conservative judge is determined that this trial will not be allowed to lower the tone of his courtroom. Barney and Nicole (Kate Box) are failing to end their affair, despite Nicole's approaching wedding. Wendy (Caroline Brazier) is falling for Roger (Martin Sacks), the husband of Fuzz's (Keegan Joyce) ex-girlfriend, while Fuzz has an age-appropriate girlfriend with a surprise of her own. Scarlet (Danielle Cormack) and David (Matt Day) are firmly on Cal McGregor's (Damien Garvey) hook, but David's colleagues push him to sacrifice Scarlet to save himself. Can Scarlet bring herself to ask for help from the only lawyer devious and unethical enough to get her out from under it?

Cleaver (Richard Roxburgh) is in prison, charged with the manslaughter of Lane Hole's (Phil Lloyd) sweet, elderly neighbour. He is bailed out by Missy (Adrienne Pickering), flush with funds since optioning the rights to her story to Hollywood. Polly Nesbitt (Maeve Dermody) moves on him, but has her own agenda. Kirsty (Robyn Malcolm) will allow Cleaver to retain his extremities, if she and Col (Steve le Marquand) are not implicated in his trial and he pays every last cent he owes, now. Barney (Russell Dykstra) warns Cleaver that he will go down for manslaughter but advises he is likely to beat a murder charge. Cleaver goads Cal McGregor (Damien Garvey) into having the charge upgraded, but Cal didn't get to be Attorney-General without a few devious tricks of his own. Cleaver will need the help of all his friends and several enemies if he is to escape a hefty stretch behind bars.