Peter Stebbings

Going home was never an option for single mother Lena Mahikan (Cara Gee). But when her 13-year-old, Peeka (Shay Eyre) overdoses in the streets of Toronto, she is forced to return home to her estranged mother and face a life-long legacy of shame and resentment. Empire of Dirt is a story about second chances and summoning the power of family to soothe the pain of cyclical damage.

Arthur is just an ordinary guy by day, who turns into Defendor, a self-made superhero, by night. His quest is to track down his archenemy, Captain Industry, the person he believes is responsible for killing his mother. But before he can do this, he must convince a court-appointed psychiatrist that he is sane enough to be on the streets, and befriending a teenaged prostitute doesn't help.

Jack is a N.Y.C. advertising executive with a life as glossy as the commercials he spins. Jill is new to the city, with nothing to stand on but her fiery personality and romantic ideals. Opposites attract, and together they author their own manifesto of "rules to live by." But Jill betrays Jack by violating rule one - Be Honest.

Maggie reunites with Tom at the shrine, but they disagree about what to do next. As they recount the events that led them to New Zealand, the couple grow more and more at odds with each other.

Maggie Cabbott leaves Canada to join her husband, Tom, in the idyllic small town of Pelorus, New Zealand, where he has been setting up a new business venture. Tom is launching a sustainable salmon fishery, but not everyone in the community welcomes the change. The couple's reunion is short-lived, however, when Tom takes a kayak out from their sailboat and doesn't return.

As Esther puts together the final pieces of the puzzle, Maggie makes a decision about the business. After a threat from Frank, Maggie prepares to leave Pelorus, but Tom has other ideas.

Maggie is devastated when senior constable Jack downgrades the search for Tom to a recovery mission. Tom's father, Frank, sends their accountant, Esther, to New Zealand to represent the wealthy Cabbott family. Meanwhile, Tom takes shelter out in an abandoned building, but a severe injury and limited water supply compromise his plan.