As the new prison psychologist, Louisa Correlli must find a way to help a long-serving prison officer, Costa, come to terms with the break-up of his marriage and the death of his best friend.

Louisa discovers the truth about Jones, but before she exposes him, she must establish why he chose the path of deceit. Concurrently, Louisa is drawn into the fantastic world of a prisoner, Alfredo.

Louisa is confronted by the parallels of life and work when a prisoner, Brett Hodges, arrives at the prison. Hodges' attitude problem and naivete make him vulnerable to the drug network.

Officer Helen Buckley joins Blackstream Prison staff, and is unwittingly seduced by Specs Redman, a prisoner who has his own hidden agenda. After Redman lands in hospital, Buckley realises she has been taken for a ride.

After Redman's shooting, Buckley must regain her position of power in the face of isolation among her peers and the scorn of the prisoners. Louisa's progress with Hodges is halted when a visit from his sister is thwarted by industrial action.

Louisa and Sister Pat encourage three Aboriginals to form a band to keep them out of trouble. Louisa is also faced with the problem of dealing with a self-mutilator, known as Spoons, whom she is trying to have transferred to a psychiatric facility.