Plot
In 2012, Sydney is suffering from a severe water drought. CPN reporter Susan Shapiro launches an investigation into the crisis and interviews the NSW Premier Angela Boardman, who is harboring a secret with Chief of Staff Tom Daily. Meanwhile, ER Doctor Michael Francia suddenly has his estranged daughter from a previous relationship, Emily, spend the night at his house after she argues with her mother.
The next day, Dr. Francia attends to an influx of patients suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Suddenly, a courier truck carrying dozens of gas cylinders crashes in the hospital car park, causing a large flame to erupt. Volunteer firefighters, including David's son Brendan and Brendan's girlfriend, Deanna, are sent to help extinguish the flame. Deanna and two other volunteers are overwhelmed by the blaze and perish during an escape attempt.
Premier Boardman declares a state of emergency and Langmore calls a Section 44, which effectively places him in charge of all emergency workers in the area. Lizzie Francia, Michael's pregnant wife, receives a call from her ill mother. Emily offers to retrieve her from the nursing home, but Lizzie declines. Emily sneaks out of the house and encounters a nearby fire. She tries to run away, but falls down a rocky hill and loses consciousness.
Shapiro accompanies firefighters transporting a man to the hospital. There, she meets with the brother of one of Boardman's rivals, who tells her that Boardman received a large, anonymous donation a month before the election. Francia calls Lizzie to insist that she evacuate, but is injured after the courier truck explodes. Lizzie begins evacuating with her two kids and gets Shapiro to take them in the news helicopter.
Langmore meets with Boardman and insists that they use the water from the desalination plant to extinguish the flames, which Boardman claims to be producing millions of liters of water daily. Boardman refuses his request, instead opting to use saltwater, which will cause permanent environmental damage. Emily is found and saved, to which Dr. Francia reassures her that he loves her.
After the death count reaches over 300, Daily sends Shapiro a text message. He reveals that Boardman made a deal with Argon Energy to give them unlimited fresh water in return for free power to the desalination plant and cash. Shaprio and her cameraman, Teddy, are killed when the factory she is reporting from explodes, releasing toxic gases. Langmore checks his email later that afternoon and finds an email from Shapiro containing her discoveries. Later, Boardman calls a press conference, and Langmore questions her about the deal with Argon. Boardman denies his allegations, to which Langmore sends out copies of the videos to the press.
During the 8 weeks following the crisis, Boardman resigned from Premier and Shapiro has posthumously received the Walkley Award for investigative journalism. However, Sydney has still not received rain.
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