Monday, June 16 at 8.30pm

A few simple telephone calls bring both hope and horror to one of the Hammersley’s favourite sons.

While his mates opt for shore leave at a local hotel, Buffer (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) is keen to connect with his new phone friend, Monica. Awaiting her call, Buffer’s attention is not only distracted by the Russian Special Forces tattoo on an aggressive passer by, but it leads him to be inadvertently locked in a container on a suspect barge, heading upriver.

Meanwhile, Commander Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake) has recovered and is back in charge of the Hammersley, quickly reacting to a “mayday” call from the luxurious yacht owned by Ray Walsman (Alan Dale). Walsman’s “floating gin palace” is being attacked by speed boat pirates, but as the perpetrators are pursued and captured, Mike and Kate (Lisa McCune) realize they have found the major players in a much bigger political jigsaw.

On Walsman’s boat is the shadowy figure of a man who is found to be a former Samaruan minister, dismissed for his favorable handling of foreign mining investments.

Up river, Buffer escapes from the barge and follows its crew to an insurgent camp, using his phone to advise Hammersley of his movements. Only then does he get the much awaited call from Monica.

It’s a call that betrays his location and results in him being captured, humiliated and eventually forced to dig his own grave.