Blue Heelers S04E21

Poetic Justice

Episode 4.21 (149)
July 01, 1997
Written by Bill Garner
Directed by Fiona Banks

It's time for the annual "Make a Wish" Talent Quest and Nick has a vision for the Heelers... Mt. Thomas is about to enjoy the rustic poetry of Banjo Paterson in a way they'll never forget.

On patrol, Adam and Dash encounter Errol the Feral walking into town with a box of organic produce for sale. The main purpose of Erol's trip to town is to make a court appearance, on marijuana possession charges. Erol had actually turned up at the police station previously to report his marijuana plants stolen!

An interstate truckdriver heading for the New South Wales border enters Mt. Thomas police station with some alarming news — his truck has been stolen along with a load of cigarettes worth nearly a million dollars. PJ is interviewing the truckdriver when Colin Ducker enters — a slick, mobile-phone-wielding Senior Investigator from the security division of the cigarette company, Fletcher-Rolfe International. Colin Ducker is there to catch the thief of the missing load pronto and insists that he's permitted to sit in on PJ's interview. When PJ shows resistance due to Colin Ducker's smug, fast-tracking attitude, Ducker play's his trump card: the head of Fletcher-Rolfe is an ex-Assistant Commissioner who has secured a company policy stating that police must give full cooperation in all matters requiring investigation. Tom persuades PJ to play the game Colin Ducker's way, or there'll most certainly be trouble from upstairs.

Meanwhile, feeling sorry for the dreadlocked and barefoot hippy, Errol, the Heelers attempt to help him smarten up his appearance before he faces court. Dash and Adam accompany him to St. Vinnie's for some "respectable" clothing and footwear of any description. They try to convince him that the dreadlocks should go and take him off to visit Victor, the local Russian barber. Errol is sure spiritual chaos will befall him if he is shorn, and he is not far wrong.

Nick takes his amateur theatrics to hair-yanking extremes with his relentless Shultz-style rehearsal of "The Man from Ironbark". Banjo Paterson would surely be rolling (or laughing) in his grave.

The Heelers eventually uncover the cigarette mystery through good, solid, old-fashioned police work (much to the high-flying Ducker's chagrin), revealing a carefully plotted scam.

Guest Starring: Stefan Dennis as Colin Ducker, Alan Brough as Kev Nooran, John R.K. Scott as Daryle Freedley, David Tredinnick as Errol, Tobi Webster as Noel Fisher, Jack Paynting as Accordian Player, Alberto Vila as Victor, Jason Davis as Miles, Nik Barker as Austin.

(encoded with Handbrake - Blue Heelers - from Complete Fifth Season DVD - the early years)

Duration: approximately 45 minutes
Aspect ratio: 4:3 standard
Audio: linear hi-fi/stereo
Size: 512MB
Video format: MPEG-4 (MP4)

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NOTE: the episode is titled as 'Up in Smoke' on the DVD.