In one day successful city lawyer, Laura Gibson's world falls apart. Laura grabs at a position as magistrate in a small coastal town and with two bewildered kids in tow sets off to change their lives forever.

Laura's puzzled by the town's attempts to guide her judgement when faced in court by an admired resident who turns out to have a very shady past.

Laura's sister, Trudi, visits Pearl Bay to heal the rift caused by her affair with Jack. Her attention is diverted to Dan who may well fall for her charm as every other male in town appears to have.

Diver Dan gives Laura some tips on how to become accepted in Pearl Bay, but Laura decides that in court she has to be her own woman.

The death of a teenage boy on a road is investigated and the whole town is distressed. Rupert is trying to do a project on His Favourite Thing but doesn't know what to do. Jules feels she is responsible for Jerome's death, as do his mother and Rupert. Dan tries to help Rupert but sparks up fights with the whole town when he gets drunk. The inquest discovers Jerome killed himself and Rupert and Dan bond.

Laura is introduced to the magic of Brabey Point - a local 'parking spot' where legend has it, strange things happen - especially when it comes to romance.

Justice is played out on stage by the Pearl Bay Dramatic Society and in Laura's courtroom.

Old feelings reawaken in all the Gibsons, exacerbated when Laura is offered a tempting job by her old firm.

Pearl Bay is going to change forever. Bob's dream to open Pearl Bay to the outside world is about to be realised.

There's an outbreak of broken hearts in Pearl Bay - on both sides of the bench.

Bob Jelly's community bank goes belly upwards and Bob faces the same fate.

The town is being terrorised by monster crabs, let loose in suspicious circumstances.

Bob Jelly sells out one of Pearl Bay's most revered traditions to a commercial sponsor and an old girlfriend of Angus's drives into town.

An ominous dream of Kevin's looks like coming true when a mysterious woman arrives in Pearl Bay; Meredith's phenomenal memory fails her; and the locals hide a guilty secret from the past.

It's vocational guidance time for the younger citizens of Pearl Bay. Bob wants Craig to follow his footsteps into the glorious career that is real estate.

Harold's estranged wife comes up in court over custody of a cat her and her neighbour share.The ownership of the cat has to be temporarily moved for the case but as people shift the cat, it ends with allergic Max.

VERY pregnant Trudi is living with Jack, which means Laura won't allow the kids over there, causing more arguments between the Gibsons.

Ultimately, Laura does not resolve her differences, but a very drunk and tired Max falls asleep on Laura's bed.