As the fourth episode begins, the locals hold a memorial for Ru’s daughter. When it ends, Maggie Cabbott (Rachelle Lefevre) approaches Pania (Vanessa Rare) who is still struggling to deal with the discovery. Tom (Matt Whelan) gets a visit from a bushman. The man says he has a hut nearby and he offers to take Tom with him. Maggie gets a message from Stuart (Peter Elliott) letting her know that they still haven’t received word from Skelton and their time is running out. She visits Stuart and they contemplate what is going to happen next. Stuart is worried that he is going to lose everything but Maggie doesn’t want to let everything Tom was working on disappear. She says she’ll fight for it as hard as she can.

Stuart rushes upstairs and calls for Annette (Sara Wiseman). She is crying and drinking so he tries to calm and comfort her. He puts her into bed before Maggie offers to call a doctor but Stuart says it is fine and he’ll take care of her. Esther (Emily Piggford) calls Frank (John Bach) and Nate (Josh McKenzie) to let them know about the discovery of the body. She explains that they could maintain a private search but the locals claim it would be a waste of time because there won’t be anything left to recover. A coroner’s report should be available in a few weeks while Nate and Frank try to figure out where to go from here. Esther is asked about Maggie and her whereabouts during all of this. Esther believes Maggie is having a hard time accepting the situation.

Frank blames her but Nate tries to calm him down. Maggie tells them that Skelton took the bait and the fish hatchery business should be taken care of in every possible way. Stuart returns to Maggie and tells her that Annette has had troubles since Aroha died. Maggie knows that she was there because Dane told her. Stuart learns that Tom used to drink so Maggie knows what they’re going through right now. She says it is a good reason not to give up the business. Stuart explains that Tom said Skelton was greedy but he didn’t seem greedy yesterday but did seem desperate and frightened. Maggie leaves, heads to the boat, and checks Jeremy Skelton’s social media page.

She calls his office and learns he has moved to a new office. Kath Hines (Tandi Wright) search near the hut with Jack (Matt Nable) and another woman. They’re near the spot where Tom was injured. Meanwhile, the bushman and Tom stop for a break. Tom tells him about the rusty nail that went through his skin before encouraging him to continue onward. They arrive at the man’s shack seconds later and go inside. The bushman tells Tom that they need to boil some water and look at his arm. He wants to make sure that Tom has nothing to do with the police searching the woods so Tom tells him about the discovery of the bones. He admits he doesn’t want to advertise his whereabouts and he doesn’t want to notify cops or doctors.

Maggie gets dressed up before visiting the bank. She tells the receptionist that she called about a replacement credit card. Meanwhile, Tom tells the bushman that he is from Denver, Colorado while the man takes care of his arm wound. Tom lets him know that he doesn’t want to talk about his life story and such. The man promises not to attack him in his sleep before Tom gets weary and lays down. Maggie visits the casino and sits next to Jeremy Skelton (Aaron Ward). She reminds him that he had a deal with her husband but he didn’t keep it. He asks her to leave because she is going to bring him bad luck. She tells him that there is a serious arrangement to be worked out and there are better places for luck than casinos. Moments later, Maggie pulls out to a building where Jeremy is standing inside.

She calls Stuart and asks him to call her with a weather update in ten minutes. She goes inside and asks him about any other arrangement he has worked out. He doesn’t want to talk about it so she asks him about Esther. Then, he admits she turned up out of the blue and agreed to pay him not to give Stuart the report. Maggie offers to pay him more to give her the report and she wants to know if the farms are truly ecologically sound. Skelton says they are and that Tom was really onto something. He agrees to give her the report if she pays him. Stuart calls with the weather report before she tells him she is just tying up one last loose end.

When the call ends, she tells Skelton that she emailed a recording of their conversation to her lawyer and he won’t get another cent. She wants a hard copy and a soft copy emailed to the District Council. Skelton doesn’t want to cooperate until Maggie threatens to have her lawyer call the police. The following day, she meets with Stuart and shows him the report she got from Skelton. Stuart is stunned that she managed to get the report without spending. She warns Stuart that Esther is a problem and suggests working together. She admits she isn’t going to go home because she feels closer to Tom there. He agrees that they’re in business. Next, we see Zoe (Anna-Maree Thomas) leaving Don and meets with Charlene.

Charlene tells her that the Canadian woman was asking about her but Zoe says she isn’t running from her. Charlene says nobody else has asked about her. Zoe gives her money before Charlene says Motueka and it leaves in 40 minutes. Meanwhile, the bushman goes fishing before returning to the hut. He performs a ritual and that scares Tom who comes out with a gun. The bushman tells him that he was only saying a prayer before they discuss food and the man’s boat. Tom asks him if he could drive him over to the other side of the sound but the man wants to have breakfast first. Tom keeps going until the man agrees to take him. The man leaves seconds later and locks Tom inside. Zoe gets caught by the people she has been trying to hide from all along.

Esther goes to the store and tells Hannah (Morgana O’Reilly) that she is leaving. Morgana asks her if she has heard about their goods news. Esther calls Brendan (Emmett Skilton) and learns that the business is going full steam ahead. She tries to call Jeremy only to find out that the number has been disconnected. Hannah returns to Maggie and tells her about Esther’s reaction. Then, she talks about Hannah’s recent and past problems. Zoe tries to tell the men that it is only a misunderstanding but they tell her to save it for the boss. Jack meets with Maggie to make sure she is okay while she takes Bella for a walk. Then, they talk about Ru and his long wait for closure. She agrees to see him at the pub later before Esther interrupts as she passes by angrily.

She gets a call from Frank and tells him that she has frozen the trust account and will keep an eye on the business to make sure nothing moves. Frank confirms that his late wife took out a life insurance policy on Tom many years ago without his knowledge and Maggie could benefit from that. Esther claims Maggie is close with the local cop. Frank knows Jack is the one who says there is no foul play so he wants Esther to take it up the chain. Jack meets with the bushman and gives him a bunch of supplies. Jack asks him about seeing a Canadian man but he denies it before the man asks about the discovery. Jack apologizes to the man he calls Ryan (Scott Cotter) and confirms that it was Aroha’s bones. Jack lets him know that Detective Pilau is back.

After that, Jack talks to Pilau and listens to her theory about the murder. She is convinced Ryan would’ve had plenty of time to get rid of the body and return. She says nobody wants to reopen the case. Jack tells Ryan about it and Ryan says it won’t make a difference since he can’t get those 12 years back. He knows his mother is likely kicking up a stink. Ryan asks Jack if he keeps the flash medical kit in his boat and he asks to have it in case things don’t go his way. Esther approaches Maggie at the bar and tells her it would be a mistake to make enemies of the Cabbotts. Maggie doesn’t think she has done that but Esther doesn’t know. Maggie says it is nice to see these people smiling again. Esther makes a comment that somewhat accuses Maggie of sleeping with Jack.

Jack checks on Maggie before she leaves. Zoe is taken to the boss Mitch Elliott (Michelle Leuthart). Zoe says she didn’t do anything wrong before telling Mitch that the guys kidnapped her. Mitch reminds Zoe that she owes her half a kilo of product. Zoe says she did most of the deliveries without any issues but her boyfriend pulled a knife on her, threatened her, and ran off with the gear. Mitch asks one of the guys to get that thing from the shed. Zoe’s friend is brought inside. He has been beaten so Zoe expects that to happen to her and she pleads with Mitch not to hurt her. Mitch says Hayden (Arlo Gibson) did this to himself trying to run away. He says it is true. He has told Mitch about Zoe partying with the wrong guy and losing the drugs.

Zoe claims Hayden and the other guy were in on it together but Mitch says she owes her drugs of $330,000. She warns Zoe that she might have to pay off her debt in the back shed with her boyfriend. Zoe claims she can get her the money tomorrow. Esther goes to DSS Pilau (Nikki Si’ulepa), says she is someone who wants to report a crime and it might be a murder. Pilau tells Jake that the wife might’ve killed her husband for financial gain but Jack doesn’t believe Maggie had anything to do with her husband’s disappearance. Jack is warned that Esther believes he might have more than a passing interest in the grieving Maggie. Jack argues with her and says Maggie isn’t a drugged up teenager who is going to drop a confession on her lap but Pilau isn’t sure about that.

Jack visits Maggie the following day and tells her they have a problem. Maggie knows Frank hates her and he is using Esther to get back at her. Jack warns her about Pilau sniffing around and says it doesn’t look good. Maggie promises that she didn’t know anything about the insurance money but she can’t prove it. Jack says he doesn’t think Maggie killed her husband but Pilau isn’t going to go away. Maggie to the detective and agrees to talk to her. She tells her she never cared about Tom’s money and doesn’t now. She signs paperwork declaring any profits from Tom’s life insurance policy will be paid to his father. She says the Cabbotts can keep their toxic money and she doesn’t want to hear from them again. When Maggie leaves, Jack tells Pilau she just lost her motivation.

Esther storms past Kath and lets her know she is in a horrible mood. She goes to her room and throws a few pillows around before getting a message on her computer. She finds a message from Sandy to Stuart asking him if he is looking for a buyer for his fishing concern. Hannah asks Maggie if she has seen Jack because he isn’t answering his phone. Maggie grabs the baby and agrees to take care of her while Hannah goes to work. Next, Maggie enters her room and finds Zoe sitting in there. Maggie says she has been looking for her right before the episode ends.

 

The Sounds Review

Despite being only 40 minutes, The Sounds sure feels a lot longer than that. We’re four episodes in and I could see people beginning to lose interest. I am finding it difficult to connect with any of the main characters. I am slightly interested in following the story so I can see how things play out but I am not a fan of any of the characters. I wouldn’t complain if any of them disappeared.

The acting isn’t bad though and I’ll watch anything with Matt Nable. Still, I can’t say this is the best drama I’ve seen this year. It is a bit too easy at times with Esther getting a revealing email just when she seems down and out. Then, we have Maggie quickly outsmarting Jeremy Skelton. These scenes made me cringe a bit. The Sounds isn’t bad but I could see why people wouldn’t like it.

The episode scores a 6 out of 10. You can find previous recaps of The Sounds on Reel Mockery right now!