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Two burglaries in the same street seem to be targeting homes without dogs, so Derek, father of two young children, purchases a German Shepherd. Across the street, a heavily pregnant Evonne has her father Ernie, a retired army sergeant, to stay, and he installs new security. But Ernie's terrible nightmares and screaming cause Derek's dog Toby to bark. This wakes Ernie's neighbours, Jimmy and Susie, and their new baby.

Nic Shields spends her lunch hour in a daily ritual at her local club: a little lunch, a couple of games of Keno and then play the pokies. But what started out as a bit of fun has slowly become a problem. Her bank balance is evaporating, and to hide the true extent of her gambling from her husband Eddie, she has re-directed her credit card statements to her cousin Grace's house. This places a strain on their relationship, but Nic assures Grace she will sort it out soon.

High achieving 35-year-old Aboriginal woman Mattie has just received a PhD in Cultural Anthropology. She races to share the news with her estranged white father Jack who she hasn't seen in 19 years. She wants to gloat. She wants to thank him for leaving her Aboriginal mother Patricia and herself when she was ten years old: a decision that had a huge impact on both their lives. She has succeeded without him. But when she makes the call, his older brother Richard (Steve Bisley) answers the phone. He tells her Jack died two days earlier.