Exiles

At the reception after the christening, Falk is introduced to Ben, the brother of Raco and Charlie, who is also a police officer. Falk eavesdrops on Rohan telling Raco about Kim leaving her job, and Rohan seems surprised that she didn’t talk to Naomi about it. Zara looks through family photos on a tablet. The mother of the Raco brothers, Diane, mistakes Zoe for Zara in a picture, implying that Zoe looks like Charlie. Charlie assures Rohan that Kim would never have cheated on him.

Falk asks Gemma if she wants to “get some air” (239), and they walk hand-in-hand through the vineyard. Gemma leads them to a secluded spot, and they kiss. Gemma says Joel will be at a friend’s house, so Falk should give her a ride home. He does, and they have sex. Gemma seems comfortable with it being casual.

Gemma gives Falk her phone number. He asks to see her the next day, and she agrees. When Falk returns to the vineyard, Rita sits outside the guesthouse, avoiding her extended family. She mentions that Charlie could offer Falk a job if he wanted to stay, but Falk insists that he will not leave his job for a woman he barely knows. Rita explains that Kim was exiled from the community for choosing Rohan instead of Charlie, and she believes this might be why Kim stopped communicating.

Raco and Falk feel like there is something missing from their thinking about Kim’s case. Falk goes to the football field and kicks a ball with Shane. Shane admits that he and Naomi used to date, but he cheated on her. Falk asks Shane if he saw glass on the ground the night of Dean’s accident, but Shane isn’t sure.

Falk goes to the police station to talk to Dwyer. They discuss Joel’s video of the crime scene, and Dwyer agrees that someone probably cleaned up the glass shards. Falk mentions what he heard about Kim leaving her job. They discuss if the marriage could have had financial problems due to Kim’s decision. Dwyer indicates where Kim’s office was before she moved and notes that Dean had the office next to hers.

As Falk walks by the offices that used to be occupied by Kim and Dean, he wonders if there was anything between them. Falk runs into Charlie, who asks if he wants a ride, and Falk admits he is going to meet Gemma. Charlie offers Falk a job at the vineyard and tells him to think about it rather than answer right away. Falk is torn because his life is in Melbourne, but he likes Marralee and Gemma.

When Falk arrives at Gemma’s cottage, Joel answers the door. He says Gemma is on her way. They talk about Joel’s plans, which revolve around leaving Marralee. Falk tells Joel about the missing glass in the video. The idea that someone would clean up the accident but not help Dean disgusts Joel. Joel has paint samples from the barrier, and Falk thinks he has seen the car color before. He takes a picture of the samples, and Gemma arrives home.

Falk drives Gemma to the overlook he visited on his way into town. He brings out sparkling wine and glasses, suggesting “champagne and sunsets” (272), referencing an earlier comment of Gemma’s. They discuss what it would involve for one of them to leave their job and move to where the other is. Gemma loves Marralee, and Falk is invested in his career. They hug and head back to the festival.