Savage River Season 1 Episode 4 Recap

The episode begins with Rachel Kennedy (Virginia Gay) and Senior Sergeant Bill Kirby (Robert Grubb) visiting the home for refugees. Rachel compares the sole of a work boot to the print found at the crime scene. Salim Bayati (Osamah Sami) claims all workers at meatworks wear the same boots purchased in bulk. Rachel asks if he wears his boots outside of work. He says all the workers do. Kirby asks if he wears boots belonging to other workers. He admits to wearing the workers’ boots size 9 before telling them that it’s common for them to get mixed up. After asking why the police are questioning him, Jamila Bayati (Maia Abbas) says is it linked to Laila Bayati (Haya Abbas). When he asks how is he supposed to know, Rachel and Kirby, look at each.

Simon Englert (James Mackay) pulls up outside with Laila. He assures her that it isn’t necessary to tell him anything. She questions why the cops are there. He suggests it’s about Hugh Lang (Andrew S. Gilbert). Distraught, Jamila demands to know where she’s been before calling her a “wretch.” Laila breaks down crying as Salim suggests they get inside.

Colleen Lang (Jacqueline McKenzie) prays for strength while folding Hugh’s clothes.

Ocean Anderson (Hannah Bickerton) tells Terry Anderson (Cooper Van Grootel) that she saw monsters. He assures her that it was only a bad dream because monsters aren’t real.

Laila tells Rachel that she was hospitalized in Melbourne before apologizing to Jamila. Rachel asks if she was hospitalized in the maternity ward after something went wrong during a procedure to end her pregnancy. Rachel asks if the father was Hugh, but Nick Healey (Julian Weeks).

Adam Lang (Jack Kenny) delivers a truckload of sheep to a facility.

Joel Thorpe (Mark Coles Smith) asks Miki Anderson (Katherine Langford) if she’d like a lift to work. When she doesn’t respond, he offers to make it up to her. He tells her that she can shiv him. She denies ever shivving anyone before asking why he continues to come back. After suggesting she’d punch someone for locking him in the freezer, he promises to do it the next time.

Rachel suggests Nick confronted Hugh about his helping Laila get an abortion. Kirby assures her that Nick isn’t a murderer. She reminds him of the meatworks’ boot print and Nick’s access to knives. He tells her that the same things could be said about Miki. She says Nick’s motive makes him the top suspect. Nick asks if Miki can be arrested for putting the bull head in his driveway. Rachel asks about his whereabouts on Wednesday night. He claims to have been at the pub. She asks if he was there all night. He sarcastically says, “Didn’t get lucky if that’s what you’re asking.” She asks what kind of relationship he has with Laila. Kirby accuses him of getting her pregnant. After asking if he’s positive, Nick says he assumed dumped him before leaving Savage River. Rachel asks him another question while he walks away.

Kirby suggests Salim had a motive for killing Hugh. Rachel reminds him that his motive, Jamila claimed he was with her Wednesday night. He points out that Salim was the translator. When she says they need to determine who Hugh spoke to at 6pm Wednesday. He admits it was his son, Connor Kirby (Bernard Curry).

Connor tells Rachel that the call was regarding Hugh’s insulin. She asks how Ivy Pattison (Hattie Hook) is doing. He claims she’s doing “great.”

Salim orders Nick to leave Laila alone. Nick warns him that he’ll not leave until he sees her. Laila pleads with Salim. Nick asks if the rumors about her being pregnant with his baby are true. She denies the allegations before hugging him.

Kirby informs Rachel of an anonymous text, “check the meatworks locker. You will find the knife” he received.

Kevin Pattison (Daniel Henshall) asks Chandra Pattison (Miranda Anwar) if she’s ready for their visitors. Chandra suggests he work his magic on the potential buyers.

Nick tells Laila that there was no need to get Hugh involved because he would’ve helped. After admitting to having no plans to keep the baby, she says her goal is to get an engineering degree. He asks if he wasn’t good enough, so she kept their relationship secrete. She says, ‘No.”

Kevin greets Hank Bailey (Amir Rahimzadeh) and Bryan Thomas (Cam Faull). Miki suggests Hank is interested in acquiring the meatworks. Kevin takes Hank on a tour when Kirby and Rachel approach. They inform him that the lockers must be searched. He demands they get a search warrant. Rachel threatens to classify it as a crime scene and shut the meatworks down. He tells them to put a rush on it before returning to Hank.

Dale O’Neill (Sally-Anne Upton) claims to have figured Miki and Joel would hit it off on day one. Miki discovers a knife wrapped in a cloth in her locker when Rachel announces the search. She crams it into her boot while Dale argues with Rachel. Rachel threatens to come down hard on them if anything is discovered in the lockers. Dale opens her locker. After the search, Rachel releases her to return to work. Rachel assures Miki that she can trust her. She asks if someone told the police to search the lockers. Rachel says she cares a lot about Hugh. Miki acknowledges it was a long time ago. Rachel warns her that she’s “on thin ice” before suggesting she tell the truth.

Joel asks Kevin why he’s giving a guided tour. Kevin identifies the men as “investors.” Miki vomits on the floor. Kevin orders her to go home.

Kirby tells Rachel that he discovered some drug paraphernalia in the men’s locker room. She questions how they’d know if the knife was the murder weapon. He suggests it probably was a prank.

Nick suggests Laila take time off work to heal. She warns him that Kevin would never hold her job. He tells her that they should get married. He asks Miki why the police are there. She asks if he requested the police search to set her up. He says she’s “off her nut” again. She asks Laila if she’s okay. After suggesting she leave, he assures her that he’ll get Laila’s job back. Laila admits she can’t go back to work today.

In a flashback, Jasmine Lang (Molly Grace) tells young Miki Anderson (Ruby Proy) that she’d be shocked to know “who” she did. Miki asks who while she walks away. Miki swears she never intended to kill Jasmine. Back to the present, Miki returns the knife to her backpack.

Simon Englert (James Mackay) apologizes before asking Miki if they can talk later tonight. She refuses his offer. Ivy questions if Simon and Miki are together. Kaji Perera (Yashith Fernando) reminds her that he’s “old.”

Colleen thanks Deborah Cochrane (Leah Vandenberg) for agreeing to take Hugh’s clothes. Deborah assures her that she’d do anything to help when Nick drops off Laila.

Laila tells Colleen that Jamila was still grieving over her son so she asked Hugh. She denies the rumors about her and Hugh. Colleen admits to imagining terrible things about Hugh. Laila suggests Hugh assumed she wouldn’t understand his decision to help her. When she offers to pay back the money, she says Hugh wouldn’t have wanted. Colleen tells Adam that they should invite his boyfriend, Ranil Perera (Amesh Edireweera) to dinner. He asks if she’s positive. He suggests they should’ve done it when Hugh was still been alive.

Kirby informs Rachel that the anonymous text was traced back to the phone booth on Main Street near the Op Shop. She says the murder weapon is probably a “skinning knife” with a straight edge and 5-inch blade. He assures her that nearly everyone has one, including himself. She points out that the knife has a missing tip.

Lynne Anderson (Cooper Van Grootel) suggests the knife could belong to anyone. Miki asks why a “random knife” would be placed in her locker before contacting the police. After saying it could’ve been Adam or Nick, Lynne refers to her as an “easy target.” Miki tells her that it must be turned in to the police. She reminds her that they lied before ordering her to get rid of it. Miki says it could be evidence that could clear her name. Lynne admits she doesn’t want to get Terry involved when Kirby shows up to search the house. While searching through the knives, he points out that she left work early. She claims Terry let her go home after she got sick. Lynne offers to make coffee. Kirby accepts the offer until Terry returns home from work. Lynne agrees to drop the knife off at the police station.

Kevin tells Hank that it’s possible to increase meatworks’ profit by doing something with the west side. Hank asks why he never did it. He admits to spending money from a loan too quickly when Max Englert (Richard Piper) identifies himself as the “Mayor of Savage River.”

Salim tells Nick that he’s ending their arrangement and Laila is to be left alone. Nick says she rejected his marriage offer.

Deborah asks Sujan Nadesan (Rejan Velu) if his bridging visa was renewed. He tells her that the refugees may be forced back to Sri Lanka if the meatworks is sold. She suggests not listening to the rumors as nothing is official.

When Lynne arrives at the police station, she overhears Kirby talking on the phone. He says, “People need some closure on this Hugh Lang thing. I’d love to announce it tonight is all I’m saying. Really take the wind out of Deborah’s sails. But, it’s not just me and Rachel, surely. I want Miki arrested as much as you do but my hands are tied.” She leaves.

Deborah practices her speech. After assuring her that she’ll do great, Connor reminds her of how much she’s helped the refugees. She says they aren’t legal voters. He asks if Tim has returned home. She voices her concern about Tim’s acting out. He tells her that Tim follows Ivy. She asks if they’re a couple. She suggests they get the adoption paperwork started. He assures her that he’s ready to adopt Tim. They embrace.

Ivy tells Tim and Kaji that her new outfit is for a date before asking if she looks 18. Kaji says, “Maybe.”

Rachel orders Kirby to ask for the first 10 minutes of the town hall meeting to ask questions. He assures him that Max won’t be happy. She reminds him that Max doesn’t have the authority to say anything.

Joel warns the other workers that they could lose their jobs if the meatworks sells. Salim suggests there may be more work if Kevin’s right about the men being investors. Joel says Kevin’s full of “sh**.” Brenda May (Bev Killick) informs Miki that she got to work around 6am right before Adam brought in the first sheep delivery.

Ranil thanks Colleen for inviting him to dinner. She suggests they all sit together at the town hall meeting. He warns her that it could turn ugly. She questions why it’s a big deal. He tells her that the refugees will be sent back to Sri Lanka if the meatworks is closed for six months. She asks if he’d have to go as well. He informs her that he’s a “permanent resident” of Savage River. When she goes for the salad, Ranil says he isn’t for sure Colleen’s okay with their relationship. Adam assures him that they’re trying.

Miki asks Lynne if she dropped by the police station. Lynne admits it didn’t work out. Lynne says she’s going to talk to Adam.

Kevin informs Chandra that Hank and Bryan have agreed to acquire the meatworks. Terry watch as they hug. Dale asks Max if he gave Kevin the okay to sell the meatworks. Kevin asks Chandra if she told Kevin. Nick orders him to stand up before calling him a “gutless bast**d.” The crowd becomes upset.

Simon approaches Miki as she locks up her bike. They enter the town hall as Max informs them that the police have something to say. Rachel provides the attendees with a description of the knife. Miki tells Rachel that someone placed the knife in her locker. Adam tries to attack her as Kirby escorts her outside. Terry asks why she did it. She apologizes before he walks away before the episode comes to an end.

 

Savage River Review

Laila tells the police and Colleen that Nick was her baby’s father. She rejects Nick’s marriage proposal after claiming their relationship was nothing serious.

The refugees discover Kevin’s plan to sell the meatworks. If there is a 6-month shutdown, the refugees will be forced to return to their native homeland.

Nick discovers Hugh’s murder weapon in her locker. Refusing to heed Lynne’s advice, she hands it over to the police. Adam tried to attack her before she even accused him.

Lynne overheard Kirby talking to Max about his desire to arrest her to secure him the Mayor race. It’s questionable if Miki would’ve still gone through with it if she knew. Rachel who seems to have some suspicion assured Miki that she could trust her. Will Kirby, Max, and Adam get their way or will she stand her ground?

Kirby hasn’t made the investigation easy on Rachel. He’s practically hidden evidence like Hugh’s cellphone record from her. Plus, he’s shown no interest in conducting a legal investigation. His only interest is to pin the murder on Miki. I am beginning to question if she killed Jasmine. He did admit to forcing her to confess during the interrogation. He told Rachel that he had two skinning knives. Did he partner with Connor to keep Hugh from ruining Kevin’s chance to sell the meatworks? After all, Kevin does owe Max a large sum of money.

Terry appears to be fed up with Miki. Lynne has practically turned her back on her own daughter. She made it clear that she wants to protect Terry. If she would’ve told Rachel what she overheard Kirby saying, things may be different. She’s like the evil stepmom, not the protective biological mum.

Nick and Salim are involved in some type of potential illegal operation outside the meatworks. Nick seemed to be telling the truth when he claimed to know nothing about the locker room incident.

Someone wanted to keep Hugh quiet. What better time to do with Miki fresh out of prison? The episode deserves a 6.8. Get more Savage River recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.