Michael Terry ist als Psychologe und Buchautor erfolgreich. Aber der Universitätsdozent hat sein sicheres Leben satt. Er sucht eine neue Aufgabe. Auf einer traumhaften Ranch in den Rocky Mountains findet er die Herausforderung, die er sucht.

Also known as ""Hardcase"". Starts off with a streetkid, Marco, who tries to kill someone to prove himself. That someone is an undercover cop. Marco, who turns out to be a foulmouthed smoker, once sent to the ranch, tries to kill Vic (whom we learn is of East Indian ancestry), who was trying to defend another ranch kid, Steven, a proud aboriginal boy. Meanwhile, a drug plane carrying cocaine crashes at the ranch. Mike goes to rescue the pilot, Ralph Nolan, Marco follows and watches. Mike calls an ambulance as Nolan is badly injured. Vic, back at the ranch, realizes Marco is missing and contacts Mike via walkie-talkie. Once Mike leaves the accident scene, Marco searches the plane and takes the cocaine stash. Back at the ranch, he privately tells Nolan he knows about the drugs and asks for his boss's contact numbers. Marco starts displaying willingness to stay at the ranch, Mike becomes suspicious as does Fox, although Mike wants to believe him. Marco calls the numbers and agrees to han

Eleanor's car is stolen and she is raped by one of the theives. She doesn't tell anyone about the rape and tries to repress it. Reid tells Michael that one of the ranch kids has been sending letters to Correctional Services saying that they have been abused at the Ranch, but doesn't know which one it is. Eleanor's assailant, Josh, is sent to the ranch and she reacts badly when she sees him but still doesn't admit that there is a problem. Michael is worried by Eleanor's behaviour, thinks she may be burning out. He suggests she take a vacation away from the ranch and Eleanor is angry with him. Later Eleanor sees Josh moving in on one of the ranch girls and attacks him. After she is arrested, she finally tells Michael that she was raped. The kids have to leave the ranch during the investigation. The kid who was sending the letters admits it during the confusion after Eleanor attacked Josh, saying it happens all the time..... Eleanor is allowed back home since the kids are gone. Lat

Walt and Pin set up Rose to get busted when she meets with her dealer (on Kevin's advice). After a night in jail, Rose agrees to let Walt help her come down off the drugs. Walt's health is not good but he ignores the symptoms. He stays up all night with Rose in her unheated room helping her through withdrawal. Michael and Eleanor consider an offer for a larger, better-funded program, which would entail selling the ranch. They visit the site for the new program and are impressed. At first both of them are quite excited about the prospects and discuss the pros and cons of moving. They discuss the changes that they will be able to make at the new facility. As well as helping more kids, they will have more staff to help out. This would allow them to have a bit of free time themselves. The converstaion inevitably turns to their relationship. They both admit they have feelings for each other they have never felt able to express while living at the Ranch. Making this move will allo