As the new psychologist at Blackstream prison, Louisa Correlli must find her way to help a long-serving prison officer, Ben Costa, come to terms with the break up of his marriage and the death of his best friend.
Louisa is confronted by the parallels of life and work when a prisoner, Brett Hodges, little older than her son, Anthony, arrives at the prison. Hodges' attitude problem and naivete make him vulnerable to the drug network.
Louisa is faced with a self-mutilator known as Spoons who she is trying to have transferred to a psychiatric facility. Also, Louise and Sister Pat encourage a trio of inmates struggling with alcohol to form a band.
Terri and Kim anxiously await the outcome of the court cases of their respective partners, Gazza and Rod, and make a pact to leave them if the sentence exceeds five years.
Louisa faces a personal and professional crisis when she has to negotiate a meeting with Haines, a psychopathic sadist, and the parents of one of his victims.
Sister Pat's emotions are in disarray when Margaret, her support of many years, decides to leave the order. Hodges leaves Blackstream and rejects Jones's support.
Blackstream is a prison riddled with drugs, and a cloud of suspicion hangs over some of the officers. Sister Pat struggles with Harry, an old-timer in a fast-changing prison world, who carries a fatal secret.
