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Fairy Tale, Ending

Claire returns to Drovers Run after her long stay in hospital, but returning home is far from easy for the single mum-to-be. Claire must deal with the lie she told some months ago—that Alex is the father of her child, when he isn’t. Claire and Alex are inundated with congratulatory wishes from everyone in the town. She has something else to worry about when Alex is involved in a serious chopper accident out in the field while rescuing Claire from a cattle stampede.

Meanwhile, Meg agonises over whether to send more money to Jodi who is still on her overseas travels, and using up her mum’s funds like there’s no tomorrow. With Jake’s help, Becky is busy chasing downs leads on Brick’s possible whereabouts, her latest tip taking her in search of an amnesia victim matching Brick’s description. Nick informs Tess that Sally is moving in with him. ©tzuk

Better The Devil You Know

Claire and Alex’s lie about the baby causes a major upset between the sisters. Harry lends Claire his prize bull that upsets Tess who was not consulted, but more importantly, Tess doesn’t like the growing influence that Harry Ryan appears to be having on the operation of Drovers Run.

Jodi returns from her holiday, but it seems life at Drovers is all a bit ho-hum now for the world traveler, she is especially upset at having been forced to return home. All is remedied by Alberto’s marriage proposal, but the timing is not good with Becky being preoccupied with her search for Brick, a task she refuses to give up on despite Meg’s insistence that she accept that he is not coming back to her. With Becky’s blessing, a date for the wedding is set, but three weeks is a bit sudden for Meg.

Under mounting pressure, Claire confesses to Liz that Alex is not her baby’s father. Liz responds that she suspected as much but wants to keep the truth from Harry, as the prospect of becoming a grandfather has done wonders for Harry and Alex’s relationship.

Veterinarian Dave Brewer continues his not so subtle pursuit of Tess, who is not at all pleased when an innocent embrace becomes the talk of the district. ©tzuk

The Road Home

Becky leaves Drovers chasing another reported sighting of Brett. Her obsession is interfering with her work and Claire has about had it, but Becky is sure this sighting is the one that will bring Brett home. With Jake accompanying her, Becky tracks Brett to a property he was supposedly working at but her hopes are dashed when she is confronted by a look-alike. Returning to Drovers, Becky is resigned to give up the search and move on with her life but a dream provides her with a vital clue that finally brings her search to an end.

Jodi is busy making plans for a huge, elaborate wedding that is becoming too much for Alberto’s liking—or Meg’s finances. When Jodi learns her mother plans to sell her mother’s jewels to pay for the event, Jodi decides a simple, traditional wedding may be better, although the idea of wearing her mother’s wedding dress quickly loses its appeal.

Meanwhile, Tess is frustrated by Claire’s refusal to go for her ultrasound for fear of discovering something wrong with the baby. Nick confesses to Tess he is reluctant to have children, afraid of becoming the type of father Harry was to him and Alex. ©tzuk

An Affair To Forget

Tess believes Sally is cheating on Nick when she sees her in town with another man. Sally’s denial of the incident and subsequent sightings of the two together only fuels Tess’ suspicions, eventually forcing her to tell Nick.

Like her engagement ring, Jodi’s wedding plans go down the drain when Alberto learns about the affair she had while overseas. Despite her assurances it meant nothing, Alberto sees red and is ready to walk out on her.
Jake tries to help Becky cope with her feelings following Brett’s death. ©tzuk

Put To The Test

As part of a pre-buck’s night prank, Craig and a couple of his mates kidnap Alberto and leave him stranded in the middle of nowhere. When Jodi finds out, she goes ballistic and together with Craig they search for Alberto. During their search Craig falls into ravine is injured. Jodi tends to his injuries as best she can and together they manage to locate an abandoned shack in the bush. She makes a fire to keep him warm but in talking Craig questions Jodi’s reasons for marrying Alberto and not him, a conversation that leads to Jodi kissing Craig to prove she has no feeling for him—but will Alberto see it the same way when he finds out?

At Jodi’s hens’ night a game of Truth or Dare reveals far more than was intended when Liz’s half-drunk musings about the prospect of Alex becoming a father to Claire’s baby leave Claire and Tess with the distinct impression that a deep secret exists in the Ryan family. ©tzuk

The Wedding

With last minute wedding preparations underway, Jodi’s father blows in unexpectedly. His arrival threatens more than Terry’s job of giving away the bride, his relationship with Meg is under threat as Kevin hopes to pick up where things left off and step back into the family he left so many years ago.

Tess may have started seeing a different side of Dave when he tells her about his previous marriages—the first ended amicably but the second was concluded by a fatal car accident that killed his wife.

A series of events serves to illustrate to Jodi that she and Alberto have very different outlooks on married life, she wanting to continue traveling and seeing the world with him at her side while Alberto is looking forward to settling down and starting a family. While the wedding goes off without a hitch, all is not well as Jodi comes to a life-changing realisation. ©tzuk

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Gone To The Dogs

Becky senses more mystery surrounding Jake’s past when he convinces her to help him save a prized racehorse from thieves.

Sally wants to become friends with Tess but she doesn’t help her own cause when she leaves a gate left open allowing a herd of sheep to damage Tess and Nick’s organic wheat crop.

Despite Jodi’s best efforts to keep a busy social calendar, it is not enough keep her from missing Alberto and wondering if she made a mistake in letting him go. Meg asks Terry to move in with her. ©tzuk

The Ghost of Things to Come

Claire uncovers a long-lost hidden treasure, which brings back ghostly memories of her mother and unleashes a gnawing fear that she will share her mother’s fate and will die in childbirth. Tess sets up a fake séance to try to ease Claire’s fears but Claire is less than impressed with the effort, although there are some suprising results.

Unable to cope with having Terry underfoot, Jodi decides she needs to move out but returning to the room she shared with Alberto brings back too many memories leaving Becky with an unwelcome roommate.

Meanwhile, Terry’s locked suitcase proves too tempting for Meg who must discover the secret within. Sally does not feel that she is adjusting to rural life. ©tzuk

House of Cards

The joy surrounding Harry and Liz’s 30th wedding anniversary is shattered when Harry’s nagging suspicions about Alex being the father of Claire’s baby explodes into a fit of rage after a seemingly innocent remark builds toward Liz confessing a long held secret which rocks the entire Ryan family. The fallout tears the family apart as relationships and loyalties are put to the test.

Brick’s younger sister Kylie arrives out of the blue at Drover’s Run looking for Becky. Her enthusiasm and idyllic vision of country life do not last long however when she discovers that Becky has apparently gotten over Brick’s death and is now seeing Jake. ©tzuk

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Three Little Words

Relations between Alex and his father take another turn for the worse when Alex discovers he has been cut off financially. Nick tries to play peacemaker but both sides are stubborn and his efforts go unappreciated.

Sally’s growing sense that Nick is not as committed to her as she is to him results in a difficult decision being made.

Dave persistence pays off with Tess who finds it hard to resist her attraction to the determined vet.

Becky learns the value of patience in dealing with Kylie when her enthusiasm to help out causes only more trouble. ©tzuk

Repeat Offenders

Anticipation is high as Tess’ journalist friend is due at Drovers to write a feature magazine article about life on the land. However, Amanda Mowbray arrives an emotional mess having just been left at the alter and tensions between her and Tess begin to rise as old wounds are reopened and long forgotten feelings are revisited.

Jake’s promotion to lead station hand at Killarney ruffles Terry feathers who feels unjustly passed over being the senior employee. Fallout from the snub quickly reaches Drovers where Meg and Becky see their own situation reflected. The pair decide to swap jobs for the day to prove their worth but they soon learn that there really are horses for courses.

Kylie’s sticky fingers nearly destroy her friends trust in her but at the same time she also exposes the secret hook to Amanda’s story on the women of Drover’s Run.

Meanwhile, Nick and Alex formalise their business partnership. ©tzuk

Sins Of The Father

Becky feels betrayed when she learns Jake’s true identity from his father, Milos Cosak, at the auctions. Milos wants Jake to return to the family and dangles lucrative job offers that only serve to feed Damien’s jealousy of Jake as the favourite son. At dinner with Jake and his family, Becky tries to test whether Jake is truly not embarrassed to be seen with her. When Damien offers Becky $50,000 to stay away from Jake, she and Jake use the money to buy a horse.

Jodi discovers the reason Kylie left home when she goes through Kylie’s mail. A pending court date for a shoplifting charge is rapidly approaching but Kylie’s seems willing to ignore it. Meg and Jodi pretend to have learned of the charge while filing for her driver’s license and convince Kylie to contact her mother and return home and to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, Tess is away at a conference with Dave and Claire must wean Phoenix from Blaze. ©tzuk

Jokers To The Right

Having Claire tell him he’s not wanted at her baby’s birth is the last straw for Alex. His resentment at being trotted out as the father of Claire’s baby at her whim, with no thought that he might want more to their relationship has him looking elsewhere—and with Sandra Kinsella making an appearance at the Picnic races, he may be ready to move on.

Tess and Nick’s sick sheep provide the excuse for Nick and Dave to butt heads over a treatment method.

Jodi’s jealousy of Becky’s new status as the girlfriend of the wealthy Jake Cosak threatens to come between the long-time friends. Adding to Jodi’s woes is hearing from Craig that he is “over her.”

Dave’s knack for creating a spectacle comes in handy at the races when his diversionary tactics save Claire and Alex from an embarrassing situation while endearing him to Tess. ©tzuk

Chain Reaction

When Jodi receives a mysterious chain letter, she discards it immediately. After all, superstition is something this country girl has no time for. But that could be about to change. For the letter has barely hit the compost when Becky announces that the cattle are sick. Further misfortune strikes Drovers, with Terry falling ill and a sheep discovered dead. Could Jodi have inadvertently cursed the farm?

The lie of being the father of Claire’s baby continues to complicate Alex’s life—especially with the local women who want nothing to do with him now that he has supposedly left Claire. To help restore his good name, Alex decides to throw a party to spread the word that he’s not an impending father and is very much available.

Meanwhile, Tess wants to know what has caused Dave’s behaviour to change so suddenly. He’s standoffish and reluctant to talk but eventually reveals it is the anniversary of his wife’s death and he is still harbouring feelings of guilt over the circumstances of her death. ©tzuk

The Awful Truth

The conflict between Alex and Harry is back in the fore with Harry back in town. Gathering the neighbouring landowners, Harry presents his plan to upgrade an old stock route that runs across their five properties.

Alex’s refusal to support Harry’s idea holds up the project but Nick hopes the conflict will give the two the opportunity to work through their issues. A conciliation appears to be in the works when Harry’s scheme is revealed. To make matters worse, Alex makes a startling discovery when he return to Killarney to confront Harry and is faced with the awful truth about Harry’s new girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Tess stubbornly refuses to ask for outside help to shear her alpacas, insisting on doing the job herself and Meg is concerned that Terry’s absences to visit a nonexistent sick aunt. Jodi is searching for direction but doesn’t like her mother’s idea of taking a course. ©tzuk

Seeing The Light

The appearance of mysterious Min Min lights over Drover’s Run is an ominous sign in Tess’ view but is it a good sign or a bad one? Claire is two weeks from her due date and Tess makes sure they have their plans in place for the big day when it finally comes, taking Claire on a test run to the hospital in Fisher, but getting sidetracks to attend to a ram caught up in a fence.

Back at Drovers Run, Tess is taken aback by Dave’s unexpected marriage proposal and can only tell him she needs time to think about it. Alex wants no part of an apology from Harry for getting involved with Sandra but Alex does warn him that Sandra is only using him to get Killarney. Claire’s friend Moira, aka “Mystic Miranda,” brings a group out to Drovers to camp and observe the Min Min Lights.

While dealing with an infestation of weavels at Willgul, Tess falls into a grain bin, nearly drowning as she gets sinks into the loose grain, before being rescued by Nick with help from Meg, Jodi and Becky.

Meanwhile, Claire, who has gone off in search of a lost wand belonging to Moira’s daughter, goes into labour in the middle of a paddock with only a dilapidated old shed for shelter. Returning from Willgul, Tess is directed to Claire by Moira’s daughter, while the others join up with Moira’s group to watch the lights. Alex, whose ute got stuck when he diverted off road to avoid the awkwardness of being stuck with Harry and Sandra at a roadblock, comes across the shed while walking back home and helps Tess with Claire. Meanwhile, at the campsite, the others watch as the Min Min Lights reappear over the distant horizon, unaware that below the lights Claire has given birth to a daughter. ©tzuk

Note: the shot of Nick peering down into the grain bin will be reused in episode 6.06, The Calling, as part of a vision Tess has after another fall (gallery)

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A Slight Interruption

A plague of Emus descends upon Drover’s Run, wreaking havoc on anything and anyone they encounter. The chaotic situation is just one more stress for Claire who is struggling to balance the demands of motherhood with that of running Drovers—feeling that she is not succeeding at either.
Dave is demanding an answer to “the question,” so to prove his commitment, Tess sends him on a fairytale inspired quest to bring back a hair from the back of a unicorn.
Becky’s overprotective behaviour for her and Jack’s new horse causes some tension but is nothing compared to the misunderstanding that arises when Becky talks about her dream of settling down and starting a family.
Harry’s plan to bulldoze the stock route is nearly halted by the sudden appearance of a rare plant.
Claire finally decides on a name for BoM—Charlotte Prudence McLeod, Charlotte after Tess’ middle name and Prudence after Claire’s mother. ©tzuk

Old Beginnings

Claire is having a naming ceremony for baby Charlotte with her friends and family when an unexpected visitor crashes the party—Peter Johnson, Charlotte’s father. Claire has written to him after the birth, telling him he is a father. Peter is justifiably angry.

Nick’s reaction to Dave’s announcement of his and Tess’s engagement forces Tess to act hastily and try to arrange a quick wedding.

When Claire’s sheep are abducted and shorn in the middle of the night, Jodi and Becky work to track down the culprits before Claire finds out.

A serious accident nearly deprives the newest Mcleod’s daughter of her natural father.

Harry’s new relationship with Sandra has apparently gone to his head.

Where There’s Smoke

Determined to prove herself at the Fire Service training weekend, Jodi soon realises it’s going to be far more difficult than she had anticipated. A potential new romance with fellow trainee Toby quickly turns sour. What’s even worse, Jodi has a major panic attack during her first mock fire exercise. Will she manage to overcome her fears when she finds herself caught up in a real fire emergency?

The growing infestation of St. John’s Wort on Drover’s Run threatens Claire and Alex’s business but the solution to the problem may just prove more troublesome when a herd of goats is called upon to eradicate the weed.

Meg is dedicating herself to her studies in order to prove herself at TAFE, and is thoroughly immersed in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The misjudgments and misunderstandings of character that drive that classic echo through everyone’s dealings at Drovers Run.

Perfect Match

Becky’s loyalties are tested when she and Jake establish a horse breeding business at Drovers Run. They are soon in disagreement with Claire over how the business is run and when the conflict comes to a head, Becky is caught in the middle and the strain quickly becomes too much, breaking up the business arrangement, and her relationship with Jake.

Meanwhile, Tess, eager to see Claire dating again, signs her up for an internet dating service, and when that fails, gathers the local singles for a "Quick Dating" session. Jodi and Toby continue their flirtations battles.

Let The Best Man Win

Alex and Nick come to the rescue of an attractive woman named Ellie when her car breaks down on a country road. Almost instantly they’re pitched into a competition to woo her, and the lead quickly shifts from one to the other as each shines with his own charm.

Meanwhile, Tess takes up a new cause when she learns the district nurse is moving away and the local council does not plan to seek a replacement and Meg enjoys some time alone while Terry is away.

Majority Rules

When Drovers is quarantined and the future of the stock placed under a cloud, true friends seem few and far between as Claire finally goes head to head with her old enemy Sandra Kinsella.

Vince Lavise has convinced Claire to run for a seat on the Gungellan Farmers’ Council where she runs into stiff competition from Sandra whom Harry, the council’s chairman, has talked into running in a ploy to strengthen his position. When Sandra uses the situation at Drovers to force Claire out of the election, the reaction of the community threatens Claire’s livelihood when her cattle come up for auction.

Meg and Terry have there eye on a piece of land but are unable to come up with the deposit for a bank loan, until an offer of help comes from an unlikely person—but is realising her dream worth the high asking price for Meg.

Jodi meanwhile is ready to act on her feeling for Nick, but does he feel the same way—or will he even take notice when she asks him out? ©tzuk

The Ties That Bind

Claire’s role as spokesperson for the local farmers’ association requires her to visit Melbourne and meet with their MLA, Charles Bateman, who is attending a national forum with other MPs. Alex is insistent that he comes along to look after mother and baby while he pursues some Wilgul matters but the real reason is that he wants to meet his biological father, an eminent barrister, Bryce Redstaff.

Claire’s meeting is a bust but Alex’s encounter with his father is a gratifying experience, showing the promise of a good relationship—until Alex begins to spend more time with him and begins to discover the true nature of the man.

Back at Drovers, Jodi makes her play for Nick using some questionable advice from Dave, while Terry intoduces Meg to his record collection.

One Step At A Time

Claire and Alex are still in Melbourne with Charlotte, blissfully in love, and making plans to extend their stay another day. At Drovers, Tess and Dave are also happy and making plans for their wedding day. When Tess, in the shower, discovers a lump in her breast, she fears she will share her mother’s fate and quickly goes into denial, telling no-one, not even Dave.

Realising something is wrong with Tess, Meg calls Claire in Melbourne and asks her to return home. In the midst of this new family crisis, news of Claire and Alex’s new relationship takes a back seat to concerns for Tess’s health as Claire is able to convince her to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Meanwhile, Alex tries to exploit Harry’s concerns about being upstaged by Alex’s biological father. Meg hopes to reign in her and Terry’s spending by cutting back on unnecessary items.

Time Frames

Tess and Dave split up when they realise that he has not yet come to terms with the death of his wife. Meanwhile, prompted by Becky, Claire asks Harry if she can use King Harold in a new breeding program on Drovers. Harry agrees, only to renege on the deal when Sandra claims he’d promised King Harold to her. Claire is furious and Harry is embarrassed, but there’s nothing either of them can do. Sandra is looking for proof that she’s now part of the Ryan family, King Harold was the first test but now she wants Harry to pass another, will he organise a family lunch and introduce her properly as the new woman in his life?

Body Language

Drovers Run hosts the Regional Young Farmer of the Year Contest, and Becky is surprised to learn that Jake has entered. He tells her he’s going to win her back. They compete neck and neck and slowly Becky is won over by his persistence and charm and the old spark between them returns. When Jake asks her to come and live with him on the property he’s leased, Becky is truly torn between the man she loves and Drovers Run…

Note: For international viewers, this episode is often the last one in series 3 with the remaining 4 episodes packaged with series 4

To Catch A Thief

Tess’s upcoming operation has thoughts of mortality creeping in so she begins to write a letter to Charlotte so that her niece can know her, should Tess no longer be around. Meanwhile, Claire reminisces when an old friend turns up unexpectedly. Claire offers Stevie a job on the ranch and Tess soon begins to wrongly suspect her of stealing feed and fuel.

My Noon, My Midnight

In a dramatic and emotional episode, heartbreak hits Drover’s Run. Tess anxiously awaits the results of her breast cancer tests convinced that her time is up while Alex and Claire decide to move in together.

Tess’s premonition of death appears to be unfounded when she receives good news from her doctor but planned celebrations are cut short when a sister’s worst nightmare comes true and the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

Related articles: McLeod’s loses a daughter, Television tragedy, McLeod's Daughters star suing over rock fall

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The Long Goodbye

Claire is dead and everyone is dealing with it in their own way. Tess tries to keep her emotions in check, unable to deal with her grief and burdened by survivor’s guilt. Tess’s one grasp on reality is, strangely, the appearance of Claire’s ghost. A cheeky, interfering spirit who tries to guide Tess towards the things that matter. Tess, however, becomes fixated by the idea that she might have been able to save Claire. Nick tries to get Tess to realize that there was nothing she could have done to save Claire. But it is not until the eulogies that Tess finally understands that she has to let go of Claire and move on.

Alex deals with his grief through anger and revenge. Blaming the brumby on Claire’s death, he sets out to destroy it. In the course of the chase, he runs into Stevie who has been camping on Wilgul land. She joins Alex in his quest, but when she realizes he could miss the funeral and therefore avoid saying goodbye, she tries to get him to understand that this could be the biggest mistake of his life.

Terry, Jodi and Meg are left with the task of running Drovers and dealing with funeral arrangements. Jodi is uncharacteristically eager to do chores, finally admitting she cannot face up to Tess or say goodbye to Claire, thinking that her response will be inadequate. Meg faces her own grief when she thinks Tess is losing her mind.

A new day and the farm life goes on. Stevie returns knowing Tess will need all the help she can get. And Tess is big enough to admit it.

Notes: In his eulogy, Terry reads Alfred Tennyson's Crossing the Bar. Claire is laid to rest on Drovers Run beside her father Jack, mother Prudence and brother Adam (yes, brother Adam. See episode 1.02)

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Turbulence

Tess and Stevie continue to clash and all the competitive ill-fellings come to the surface when a private investigator turns up at Drover’s Run. Tess accepts Stevie’s explanations at first (something about witnessing a rodeo accident up north), but gets suspicious again when Stevie is caught packing her bags. Still refusing to reveal the truth, she offers her resignation and Tess accepts with more than a little relief. As Stevie loads up her car, Jodi, Meg and Tess discover little Charlotte has been bitten by a redback spider. Fearing for Charlotte’s life, Tess accepts a ride from Stevie to the hospital, but it turns out to be far from a straightforward trip. With the private investigator in hot pursuit, things get worse when Charlotte has a heat-induced fit. It looks like they are not going to make it to the hospital in time so Stevie steals a plane to speed the trip up. Charlotte’s young life is in the balance and Tess is terrified that she is going to lose the one link she still has to her dead sister.