Blue Heelers S04E23

Sick Puppy

Episode 4.23 (151)
July 15, 1997
Written by Peter Dick
Directed by Steve Mann

Tom becomes worried when his schoolteacher daughter, Susan, fails to arrive in Mt. Thomas. She was driving up from Melbourne to take up a temporary posting at the town's primary school. Dash and Adam discover Susan Croydon's car abandoned on the roadside. It has been involved in an accident with another car, also abandoned, and there is no sign of either driver.

Bryan Maxwell, Andy's older brother, comes to the police station, anxious about Andy's failure to arrive at the family farm. Tom has just about convinced himself that Andy has done Susan harm when the missing pair are found — they were only hiking for help after the side-swipe accident which Susan insists was her fault. To Tom's chagrin his daughter has struck up a friendship with this dubious young man and invites him home for dinner. Bryan, the brother, invites himself too.

Conversation after the meal takes a sinister turn when Andy holds forth with some morbid details from the history of hanging. It seems to be a hobby of his. Tom tries to prevent Susan from having any further contact with Andy Maxwell after discovering he was accused of murder a few years before, but his daughter is too stubborn to listen and goes off on a picnic with Andy while Tom works fast to find out all he can about the murder case.

Jodi Dunn, the sister of the dead girl, is interviewed and remains convinced Andy murdered Michelle Dunn in a fit of rage after being dropped as her boyfriend. Bryan Maxwell is interviewed and is concerned to hear Andy is out with Susan. The impression grows that Andy is a timebomb and Susan might be his next victim. Maggie and Nick round up Andy and the unharmed Susan. Back at the station, PJ grills Andy concerning his role in Michelle Dunn's death. Andy, although under stress, sticks to his story. However, the Heelers have discovered a lie about his movements on the day of the murderand Homicide is contacted to reopen their investigation.

Meanwhile, the second of two disturbing burglaries occurs in Mt. Thomas, each involving the strangulation of a dog. In one case, a real dog is killed with a cord, in the other a toy dog is found hanging from a noose. There is a strong link here with Andy Maxwell, whose dog breeding aunt, Nita Maxwell, blamed Andy for hanging three of her best breeders from a tree the last time the boy was in the area.

There's yet another alarm for Tom Croydon when he finds that Susan has departed from his house, leaving behind an angry note and no clue where she's gone. The next day he starts a worried hunt to trace her. Where has Susan gone and is her life in danger? All the Heelers know is that the murderer is poised to strike again. Can they find him before he claims another victim?

Guest Starring: Beth Buchanan as Susan Croydon, Timothy Schwerdt as Bryan Maxwell, Angus Smallwood as Andy Maxwell, Carla Hoogeveen as Nita Maxwell, Nana Coburn as Jodi Dunn, Adam May as Ellis Corby, Oliver Frobose as Tyrone Terry, Scott Meneilly as Sr Det Green

(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: 482MB
Video format: MPEG-4 (MP4)

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