- Whoa, this is bad.
The tourists have left rubbish everywhere.
- They've trashed the medicine garden.
- What?!
- I will ensure the safety of this forest.
- Alex Zarkoff, one of those tech billionaires.
- Gabe Zarkoff. I'm staying with my brother, Alex.
- Have you guys seen Issie?
- She's over there, flirting with some guy.
- Wait, you live here?
Why are you back?
['MYSTIC' THEME MUSIC]
Captions by Able. www.able.co.nz
[MYSTERIOUS MUSIC BUILDS]
- DORA: ♪ Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross... ♪
[HORSE WHINNIES]
[RUMBLING, ROCKS CRASH]
[OBJECTS CHIME]
[RUMBLING CONTINUES]
- Gran! [RUMBLING STOPS, GLASS CLINKS]
- Just between you and me,
I'm a bit worried about the stables.
See, Tom's... He's never been good with money.
Morning, love!
Amanda, look who's up.
- Oh, hi, darling!
- Why am I the only one panicking around here?
- What's the matter?
- Uh, maybe the house falling down around us, you know?
No biggie [!]
Hi, Mum. - Wait, what?
[PANTS] Are you saying there's been
an earthquake? - Just a tiny shake.
Happens all the time. - Quick!
Get- Get out of the house.
- Amanda, calm down. It's stopped.
- [SIGHS] OK, sorry. Just feeling a...
a little bit frazzled, because, um,
well, I've only got a few hours
till my flight, and I thought I'd got everything packed,
and then Auntie Hester turned up.
- Hester? What did that old busybody want?
- Well, to offer me a lift to the airport
and to drop off an attic full... of your old junk.
- Junk?! Those are relics from a bygone era.
- Errors in judgement, more like.
- Gretchen! God, I haven't seen her for years.
- Got a mate as well. Look at the state of that one.
- She's a keeper. - [SIGHS]
I haven't got time to sort through all this lot, and...
- Mum, stop panicking.
- I can't bring it back to New Zealand with me. I mean, what-
Am I gonna ride that back?
- When do the new tenants move in?
- Oh, actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
You see, [SIGHS] there's been a bit of a development with
the house.
Someone's made an offer.
- Someone wants to buy our house?
- It was completely out of the blue. Um...
But it's a good offer.
What do you think?
- Well, it's...
it's weird to think about another family living there.
But it doesn't really feel like home any more.
- Yeah, I feel the same. - That's great!
You could use that cash to rent an office when you get back.
You'll need it. Property prices have gone through the roof
with a wild herd and all. - That's not a bad idea, Mum.
Just need to...
sort through...
whatever this all is.
- [CHUCKLES] - I mean, what...
- Hey, Gran,
you know that house that Alex Zarkoff bought?
Did anything happen there back in the day?
- Not that I know of.
Why?
- No reason.
- What are these?
Some sort of...
[RELAXED MUSIC PLAYS]
- [SIGHS]
- It's not straight, Jake.
- Oh. Just go... Boop. [CHUCKLES]
- Ah. Thanks, love.
I'm glad we spent all that money on the renovations [!]
[CELL PHONE RINGS, VIBRATES] - Oh. Uh...
Yello?
- Haven't seen Issie around here since you've been back.
You guys OK?
- Yeah, yeah, we're good,
I think. - Mm.
- Why? Has she said something? - Oh, no. It just seemed like
there was something between you two before you left.
And she came into the cafe about half a dozen times,
asking after you while you were away.
- Really? - Mm.
She tried to play it cool,
but no one likes my kale muffins that much.
- Yeah, we were texting while I was in Oz. But, you know,
the internship got so full-on,
and, you know, I didn't get a chance
to text her back. So, uh, now things are a bit weird.
- Son, it's not rocket science.
If you don't wanna be the guy that stopped texting Issie,
then don't be the guy that stops texting her.
And if you leave that gift in your pocket another day,
I might just have to give it to her myself.
- Hi. - Hi.
- Can I get a quinoa-and-tuna salad, please?
[BIRDSONG]
[WATER TRICKLES]
[BELLS CHIME]
[EERIE MUSIC]
[BREATHING ECHOES]
[INTRIGUING MUSIC]
- Aah!
[BREATHING ECHOES, BELL CHIMES]
[PANTS]
- Come on, Issie! Yeah, keep up the speed. Come on.
You got this. This is the one. I can feel it!
Yes? - Come on, Blaze.
We can do this. - Fly over the fence.
Just think like you're a massive bird.
Yes! OK, and again!
- [GROANS] - [SIGHS]
- This is useless. I keep running out on the second jump.
What is wrong with me?
- Why don't you ask an actual teacher like Dan for help?
It's a bit more complicated than believing you're a bird.
- Excuse me, but that's exactly how I'm gonna get myself
on the regional team. - [SCOFFS] Good luck.
- Actually, you might have a lot less competition
than you thought.
Did you hear Bianca broke her thumb?
- What?!
Then she's out of regionals if she can't ride.
- I guess so. Apparently,
no one else from Dulmoth Park's riding either.
MOCKINGLY: Their stables are out of action.
- Yes! Karma is real.
- TOM: Oi, you lot!
That tack room is a total pigsty.
- Guys, is anyone else seeing this?
- [CHUCKLES]
- What? - Are you OK, Tom?
Did somebody die?
- No, nobody... died.
- Are you in trouble with the law?
- Uh, receiving an award?
- Moonlighting as a magician? - Oh, OK.
Very funny [!]
Got a thing. - A thing?
- Yes, a thing.
And I don't have to explain it to a bunch of kids.
Now, I want that tack room tidy by the time I get back.
- From his thing.
- Get on with it. [TEENS CHUCKLE]
[GENTLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC]
- Guys,
Tom never wears a suit - like, ever.
- Yeah, something's definitely up.
He's obsessed with cleaning all of a sudden.
It's like he's expecting the Queen to visit.
- I heard Gran whispering to Mum this morning -
something to do with Tom and money.
You don't think he's gonna sell?
- No way. Tom would never.
- Yeah, but he would also never wear a suit.
- She's got a point.
- If someone did buy the stables,
what would happen to Blaze? - What will happen to us?
[TENSE, CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC]
[GRAVEL CRUNCHES]
[ENGINE TURNS OFF]
- The sale can't go ahead. We've got to stop it.
- How? I mean, we don't even know where Tom went.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. We don't know for sure that
he's planning to sell. - Hey, guys.
Uh, there's a man in a flash car outside
saying he's got a business meeting with Tom.
- A buyer.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC]
- He couldn't be more different to Tom.
- He's the anti-Tom.
- I bet he doesn't know the first thing about
running stables. - Or caring for horses.
- Nah, he's probably just gonna knock it down,
build a bunch of houses.
- Tom wouldn't actually sell, would he?
- No.
- Yeah, speak to you later. [CLEARS THROAT]
- Nah, you know what? I'm not taking any chances.
- Issie, what are you doing?!
- Hi. Can I help you?
- I've got a business meeting with the owner. I'm early.
- Oh, I'm sure he won't be long. I'd offer you a cup of tea,
but it's probably best to stay outside, you know,
given the circumstances. - What circumstances are those?
- Oh, Tom hasn't told you? About the asbestos?
- Is this property dangerous?
Should we be standing this close?
- Mm, yeah. You know what? I've been wondering that myself.
Maybe we should give it another couple of metres.
- Um, I don't understand.
Mr Avery said I could have a tour of the facilities.
- Of course. Uh, we'll just need you to sign a few forms.
- Well, what kind of forms?
- Tom's lawyers can talk you through it.
Um, I'd recommend holding your breath
as we go through the tack room,
you know, just to be on the safe side.
- Uh, maybe I'll come back another time.
- Oh. - [CLEARS THROAT]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES, ENGINE STARTS]
[CURIOUS MUSIC]
- Bye!
[MUSIC FADES]
- [SIGHS]
- Morena.
Morning.
- We're placing a rahui on the garden,
give it time to regenerate.
- Yeah, yeah. We'll cordon off the area for a few days,
give it a chance to get- - No, not a few days, Kenny.
- What, a week?
- Kumarahou. This is our cough medicine.
The old people swear by it.
It's a hard plant to grow in these parts, bro.
These ones took us a couple of years to establish.
We're gonna need a full year.
- Yeah, yeah. I was gonna say that.
Right, well, now we've solved that little tourist hiccup,
I'll get back to my mayoral duties.
- The rahui isn't gonna be enough on its own, Kenny.
You've still gotta follow up on
your promise to protect this whenua.
Now, when are those new rubbish bins being installed?
- Uh, well, soon.
Today, in fact.
Look, I give you my word -
no more harm's gonna come to this land,
our whenua, under my watch. - Whoo!
- I'll talk to every single tourist personally
if I have to. - Whoo-hoo-hoo!
- Yeah, good. - Whoo!
- You can start with him.
- [LAUGHS] - No, you can't do that here.
[TYRE SCRAPES]
Wait, no. Hey!
Oi! Oi!
Come back!
Show some respect!
Oi!
- [LAUGHS] Did you see his face?!
- He won't be back any time soon.
- You were pretty epic back there, London.
- Thanks. I don't think Tom will agree, though.
[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC]
- Um, so, we haven't really talked since I got back,
and, um...
there's something that I've been meaning to give you.
[DOOR THUDS OPEN]
- I have had it up to here with you guys!
- CAROLINE: Whoa. - CALEB: That's not good.
- [SIGHS] I've just spoken to Gary Plimmer,
and he said... that you told him...
that these stables were riddled with asbestos!
- Did I say 'riddled'?
- It's not a joke, Issie!
That man was gonna keep his racehorse here.
- So you weren't going to sell the stables to him?
- What on earth gave you that idea?
I've just been turned down for a loan from the bank,
and that horse...
I really could've done with the income.
- I'm really sorry, Tom.
- Look, is there anything that we can do?
- Nah, I think you've done enough.
[SPARSE GUITAR MUSIC]
[DOOR CLOSES]
- [SIGHS]
- Are we sure about this? - Things can't get any worse.
- OK.
[KEYPAD BEEPS]
[RINGING TONE]
- Yes?
- Mr Plimmer, hi.
It's Natasha Tucker calling from Kauri Point Stables -
Tom's PA. - Mm.
- I was just calling to apologise
for that incident this morning with that unruly kid.
- That was a complete and utter waste of my time.
- I understand,
and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.
You see, that girl you spoke to has issues.
She's prone to random outbursts, compulsive lying.
- Mm-hm. Yeah, she needs help.
- I've been saying that for months.
Rest assured, there was no truth to what she was saying.
Kauri Point Stables is in excellent condition,
and we would love to give you and your horse a full tour
of our facilities at your convenience.
- That won't be necessary.
I've already found a suitable alternative - Laurieston Farm.
- Are you sure?
Kauri Point offers- - No, I've made up my mind.
Goodbye. [LINE CLICKS]
- [SCOFFS]
[RECEIVER CLACKS]
- I had no idea things were so bad. I mean,
did you see all of those unpaid bills on Tom's desk?
- Oh, so that's why the Dulmoth Park stables are out of action.
How do awful people have enough money to build
brand-new stables
while decent people like Tom are struggling to survive?
- We should go to Alex Zarkoff's house.
- Um, why? - Did I miss something?
- Issie wants to go and see Gabe.
You know, the guy from the barbecue?
- It's got nothing to do with Gabe, OK? Alex is a billionaire.
So why don't we ask him to invest in the stables?
- He does support a lot of charitable causes.
He's the patron of an iguana rescue shelter in LA.
- How is that a thing?
- So he's into inspiring animal rescue stories, right?
We could tell him about Blaze, how KP Stables saved her life.
- Uh, well, it's not exactly true.
I mean, Tom did kind of want her to be put down.
- Don't let the truth get in the way of an inspiring story,
Issie. Business proposals are all about selling the dream,
not reality. Ask my dad.
- We can't just rock up to Alex Zarkoff's house and say,
'Hey, rich guy, wanna give us some of your money?'
- Look, we dress the part, speak his language.
He won't be able to resist a good social-media opportunity.
[COOL, ENERGETIC MUSIC]
[MUSIC BUILDS]
Uh!
[MUSIC STOPS]
[CALM, INTRIGUING MUSIC]
[WATER TRICKLES]
[BIRDSONG]
[HORSE WHINNIES]
[BELLS CHIME]
[EERIE MUSIC]
- Issie?
Are you OK?
- Mm-hm.
Let's just do this.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
- He must be out.
- I hope we're not interrupting.
His fans have all been talking about
this new VR game he's developing.
- Does he have any fans left after Dunk Dragon?
Honestly, that game is so bad. [CHUCKLES]
- What was that?
About Dunk Dragon?
[BELLS CHIME]
[TENSE, CURIOUS MUSIC]
[CHIMING CONTINUES]
I have a synchronised global meditation in... 10 minutes.
So you got five.
[TICKING]
- Alex Zarkoff, today is your lucky day.
Kauri Point Stables is a stable financial investment,
a chance to support a good cause
and expand your property portfolio.
I'm Natasha. This is Stella, Caleb, Caroline, Dan and...
Issie, who will kick things off with her inspiring story
of how she saved her horse, Blaze.
Um...
Take it away, Issie.
- Hi! [CHUCKLES]
[TENSE, CURIOUS MUSIC]
- [EXHALES FIRMLY]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[CLUNK!] Aah!
[VACUUM BEEPS]
[VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRS]
- And then I rescued Blaze from the horse rustler,
but then Blaze was still like, 'Neigh! Don't ride me.'
And so Issie had- I- I mean, I had to convince Tom
to let Blaze stay at the stables, and he was like,
'Mate, you're dreamin'.'
And I was- - Whoa, just a second.
Who is Tom?
[TENSE, CURIOUS MUSIC]
[BALL SLOSHES]
- [GASPS QUIETLY]
'It's been decided.'
[DOOR CREAKS]
- Well, hey, Batman.
- This looks really bad,
um, but I promise I wasn't gonna steal this.
- No, of course not. You got better taste than that.
I mean, you go for the record collection, right?
- [CHUCKLES QUIETLY] Nah, I'm more of a modern art fan.
- Oh, my kinda girl. - [CHUCKLES]
- So I said to myself, 'Caz, this is your moment.' And-
- Thank you, Issie. That was really inspiring.
Now for Caleb to present our business proposal.
- Before I start, I just wanted to thank you for
taking the time to meet with us.
We know how much your time is worth,
and we're really grateful that
you've opened your schedule for us.
- Yeah, I didn't open my schedule.
You showed up at my house.
- You've got to take risks to get noticed.
You said so in chapter seven of your book.
- Wow. You've really, um, done your research.
- [CHUCKLES] I've read it three times.
Actually, eight times.
- As Caleb was trying to say,
Kauri Point Stables is a top-notch facility.
- Yep. - Look, our- our reputation
in the horse care industry, it's unrivalled.
But there's more work to do, you know, more horses to save.
- ISSIE: We're supposed to be giving him a pitch.
- What we need- - GABE: Really?! [LAUGHS]
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC]
- What we need is, um...
[CHUCKLES] Where was- Where was I going with this?
- What we need...
is to ask Mr Zarkoff a question.
And that question is...
[POP!]
- Will you invest in Kauri Point Stables?
- Wow. You Kiwis really know how to put on a show.
- [CLEARS THROAT] Sorry I'm late. Um, I'm Issie.
- I thought she was Issie.
OK, thank you.
Uh, it's gonna take me a while to figure out what that was.
- So,...
you'll invest?
- [LAUGHS]
No, uh, not a chance. That was Dunk Dragon-level disaster.
The secret for pitching is be authentic.
People know when they're being sold a lie.
[CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC]
- This is seriously gross.
Maybe we should organise a community clean-up.
- [SCOFFS] Another great idea.
Do you plan on showing up this time [?]
- Look, Natasha, I'm really sorry, OK?
But I wouldn't have disappeared if it wasn't important.
- [SCOFFS] How is flirting with Gabe
more important than trying to save the stable?
- That isn't what happened. Gabe just showed up.
- Oh, convenient [!]
- Look, you could've just said you wanted to see him.
You didn't have to invent an excuse.
- I wasn't trying to see Gabe!
I had to check something out. - STELLA: What?
- Mystic's been showing me visions of Alex's study.
There's this eight ball with a message - 'It's been decided.'
- What? You could've just told us.
You didn't need to trick us into going to Alex's house.
- I know.
The visions are different to last time. It's like...
It's like when I went into Alex's study,
I knew exactly what was gonna happen.
- STELLA: Creepy.
- And I don't think it's about the herd this time.
[BANG!]
- What was that?
- [BLOWS]
- Your dad. - Oh, perfect timing, gang.
You can test-drive the new bin. Isn't she a beaut?
I'm puttin' them all up the access road.
- Bit small, isn't it?
Hey, isn't that the bin from my bedroom?
- We all gotta make sacrifices to protect the forest,
Caroline. Thank you.
Very good.
[QUIRKY ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Good on ya, mate. [CLEARS THROAT]
- Stage one of Project Dining Room is almost complete.
Uh!
And this alcove is where we are gonna house
the antique candelabras.
- And this alcove is where we'll house
my brother's massive ego [!]
- How's that, um, free room and board working out for you?
- How's that free manual labour going for you?
- A little too chatty, actually. - [CHUCKLES]
- Hey, seriously, check out this sand.
There's somethin'... weird about it.
- It's just sand.
Dig.
- I am lovin' this whole prison-warden thing
you got goin' here.
- [GRUNTS]
- Don't ask. - I don't wanna know.
- Hey, Tom, I just wanted to say, you know,
I know things are a bit tight right now.
- Ah, well, you know.
- It's OK if you don't pay me. I can work for free.
- No, I can't do that.
- I can just pick up more shifts
at the cafe, just till things get back to normal.
- Thanks, mate.
[MEANDERING COUNTRY MUSIC]
- [GRUNTS, GROANS]
- You gotta drive through, Issie.
Jumping doubles - it's not about speed;
it's about impulsion. - [CHUCKLES]
I'm totally impulsive.
It's not helping. I'll try again later.
[GRUNTS]
- Oh, hey. Hey, um,
I wanted to give you something.
Um, you know, I've been carrying it around
ever since I got back.
- [CHUCKLES] It looks exactly like Blaze.
- Yeah, yeah, I got it from a street market over in Oz.
- Wait, so- so you did have days off? You made it seem like
it was all work. - Well, yeah,
it was mostly work,
um, but, you know, we'd head there whenever we had a chance.
Anyway, there's a- there's another intern called Tess.
She actually reminds me a lot of you.
She was the one who gave it to me.
- Wait, wait.
She gave you this? - No. Um, no, she gave it
because, um- because she was helping me
find it for- I'm not explaining myself right.
- Uh, it's- it's beautiful.
It must be nice to have something to remind you of
your time back there.
- Yeah, yeah, I guess. - Uh, I'm gonna go.
I'll see you later.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
- [NICKERS]
- [SIGHS]
- You want these trees cut down?
You can cut them down yourself.
This is our town, our forest- - Hey.
- Oh, actually, while you're there...
Thanks, mate. It's our- - Get behind the till!
- Right.
It's our town, our forest. Get out.
[MUSIC PLAYS, CROCKERY CLINKS]
- How did it go with Issie?
- Mm.
- Oh, that bad, huh?
Sorry, son. Do you want the afternoon off?
- Nah, I'd rather just keep busy.
- Oh, good. Get out there.
- Sorry for the wait. What can I get you?
- I'll have an Americano.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
- Dan?
[ADVENTUROUS, DETERMINED MUSIC]
- Hi. - Not you again.
- [PANTS] Look, we're not here to cause trouble. I promise.
- Oh, no, I'm not listening to any more.
- No, but that's why we're here - to-
to give an authentic account of Kauri Point Stables.
- I'm really sorry about before.
I know I made a mess of everything.
And we know you want what's best for your horse,
so can you please just listen to what we have to say?
- I have a feeling I'm going to regret this.
- Look, it's true that
KP Stables isn't the flashest one around.
There are a few leaks in the tack room.
- Good start [!]
- Oh, and the occasional problem with the septic tank.
- And the office kind of smells like cheese.
- Yeah, but it's not the stables that you're paying for.
It's Tom.
- He's not exactly a people person.
- He's a horse person.
- Well, he understands them.
- And he works harder than anyone.
- And he's super-patient.
- And he's got a great sense of humour.
- Uh, once you get used to it.
- He's loyal. - And he's the best rider
on the coast, but he wouldn't tell you that.
- You kids really care about him, huh?
- He even sings to the horses every night
to help them go to sleep.
- Look, I'm aware of Mr Avery's reputation.
That's why Kauri Point was my first choice.
OK, I'm willing to give it a try.
- Yes! - But I don't want you to come
within 20m of me or my horse.
- You- You won't even know I'm there.
- I've just had the strangest call from Gary Plimmer.
He's decided to keep his horse here after all.
- Really? - Oh.
- Hmm. - Weird.
- Yeah. Anyone know why he's sent through a list of songs?
- Songs? - That's really unexpected.
- So weird.
- Right.
- So, you're all good now with the money from the livery?
- Well, we're not out of the woods yet...
which is why I've decided to invite Dulmoth Park
to stable their horses here
until their building work gets done.
- No way.
- Are you serious?
[HORN HONKS]
[VEHICLE APPROACHES]
[INTRIGUING ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
[BRAKES HISS, SQUEAK]
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC STOPS]
- So...
who's gonna show them around?
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC RESUMES]
Captions by Able. www.able.co.nz