Redfern Now: Dec 6

This week ABC1 plays the season final of Redfern Now, “Pretty Boy Blue.”

This episode features Wayne Blair, who has appeared briefly in earlier episodes as a local policeman.

But this week he comes to the fore in yet another strong episode, tackling deaths in custody. He is joined by Stephen Curry, Luke Carroll and an impressive Trisha Morton Thomas.

The series has been renewed but may not return until 2014.

Aaron Davis (Wayne Blair) is a proud Indigenous policeman: proud of the community in which he works, and very proud of his daughter Robyn (Rarriwuy Hick) and his three-year-old granddaughter Donna.

It’s early morning, and Aaron does his usual boxing training with local kids, and the only thing to mar the day is that he is being taunted by young troublemaker Lenny (Luke Carroll).

Late that day as Aaron is finishing up at the station Lenny is brought in yelling abuse. Lenny’s been in a bad fight and Aaron is about to call for a doctor. But he stops when Lenny’s taunting pushes him too far, and so when Lenny calls out from the cell in pain, Aaron ignores him.

But Lenny’s cries suddenly stop and Aaron realises that something is terribly wrong. He rushes to help, but it’s too late – Lenny is dead. And so Aaron’s nightmare begins.

As word of the death spreads, Lenny’s brother tries to cause trouble but he and his young friends are held back, talked around by family and community. Lenny’s mother, Aunty Mona (Trisha Morton Thomas), asks Aaron whether her boy suffered. Aaron lies and tells her no.

But when Lenny’s family is shown the cell surveillance tapes, Aaron has to find the courage to go and tell Aunty Mona the truth.

8:30pm Thursday, 6 December ABC1.