Under Fire is the fifth episode of the first season of Virgin River and the fifth episode of the series overall.
Summary []
Under pressure, Mel and Jack respond to a medical emergency on a remote illegal pot farm. Charmaine and Hope exchange words.
Plot Summary[]
As they are being held at gunpoint, Jack tries to confront Jimmy, remarking that he stands a good chance of disarming him before becoming critically injured. Mel becomes increasingly annoyed at the showdown between the two, and remarks that she wants to help if someone is in need of medical attention, but will only do so if Jack accompanies her. Jimmy eventually agrees for Jack to accompany the two and the trio drive off.
Back at Jack’s bar, things are becoming more unmanageable for Ricky and Brady with the bar being increasingly busy in Preacher’s absence. Hope arrives at the bar and is sour when she bumps into Vernon collecting dinner. He questions Mel and Jack’s absence, to which Ricky explains the situation. Both offer to go drop off a spare tire but Ricky mentions that Bert is already on the way. Hope, seeing the staff struggling, puts on an apron to help out. Moments later, Charmaine arrives, looking for Jack
Arriving at the location, it is revealed that they have been brought to the illegal cannabis farm. Mel questions the illegality and existence of the farm, and Jack reveals that the cannabis is grown underground. As these camps are usually present in state parks, they fall under the responsibility of the Department of Fishing and Wildlife and there are not enough people to patrol all the land. Mel apologises for involving Jack, who dismisses it and is glad that he can keep her safe. Jimmy and Spencer take Jack and Mel to the owner of the farm, Calvin (who was one of the men in the bar during the fight) and who has been injured in a shootout. Mel advises that he go to a hospital, but both Calvin and Jimmy refuse as gunshot wounds are reported to the police. Mel understands, but explains that she is not sure he will survive — even with her help. The men take her to the provisions tent where she gets the necessary supplies. She is surprised to see all the supplies that Doc has left behind and to learn about his frequent visits.
Back at the bar, the staff as well as Hope are busy serving the vast number of customers. Some customers start complaining about the long wait time and now lack of what they ordered. Charmaine notices this and proceeds to also put on an apron and help out when she sees tensions rising between the two. Hope complains that freebies are not good for business and that they are out of stew, but Charmaine remarks that Preacher has an emergency stash and that what matters is making the customers happy. Vernon questions Hope’s annoyance with Charmaine, to which she replies that seeing her too often agitates her.
Back at the farm, Mel struggles to stop the bleeding as leaving the tourniquet on would cut off circulation. She is convinced that Calvin will not make it through the night. Jack says that if Calvin loses consciousness, he might be able to convince the others to go to the hospital but Mel replies that it is already too late and he would die on the way there. Jimmy questions what the two are whispering about before Mel asks the others to help her as has no option but to cauterize the wound to stop the bleeding. As Jack prepares the hot blade, Mel sterilises the wound and has the others hold Calvin down as he is burned and screams in pain.
In the meantime, Bert finally arrives at Mel and Jack’s truck to find the pair missing and the car doors unlocked. He attempts to call the bar and ask if anyone knows about their whereabouts. A busy Brady answers and quickly replies that they are not there before putting down the phone.
Mel manages to bandage up the wound but remarks that they must take care of the wound to prevent it from opening up and bleeding again. Jack says that they will send Doc as soon as possible. As they try to leave, Jimmy orders that the two stay overnight to ensure that Calvin lives, saying that if anything happens, it’s on them. When asked about Calvin’s chances of survival, Mel remarks that it is highly likely that Calvin will not make it through the night.
Back on the road, Bert writes a note for Mel and Jack to read once they return, walks back to his tow truck and drives off.
At the pot camp, Jack and Mel huddle around a fire and pray that Calvin makes it through the night. Mel is worried about what will happen to them if Calvin does not survive but Jack reminds her to focus on staying positive. The two drink and talk about their pasts with Jack revealing the stories behind his scars. When asked why he never got them removed, he replies that they tell a story and remind him of how lucky he is to be alive. Mel herself shows the scars she has gotten as a nurse.
At the bar, the group is cleaning up before closing. Charmaine questions if anyone has heard from either Jack or Mel but Hope assumes that they are dropping off the car at the auto shop and will arrive shortly. Brady clocks out early after clearing up the kitchen and asks if Hope can close up for him instead. As he is leaving, Vernon arrives at the bar. He talks with Charmaine briefly and Hope remarks that she inherited her mother’s soft spot for the doctor. Charmaine leaves, asking Vernon to tell Jack she stopped by, to which he agrees. Tensions rise between Hope and Vernon when it becomes clear that Charmaine is the daughter of the woman Vernon slept with whilst married to Hope. Vernon asks her to forgive him as it was a long time ago and he was going through a tough moment. Hope remarks that she never slept with anyone despite struggling and that if he doesn't understand now, he never will.
The next morning, Jack and Mel are awoken to be told that Calvin has survived the night and they go to check on him.
At Hope’s house, she receives a call from an unknown number. At first, she assumes that it is someone trying to sell her something and is about to hang up when it is revealed to be Joey. She is calling to ask about Mel as she has been trying to call her since last night. Hope says that she has not heard from her but after listening to what Joey has to say, she becomes concerned.
At the camp, Mel examines Calvin, who does not seem to be presenting signs of an infection, although she is wary as it could still develop. After seeing Calvin’s indifference, Mel harshly tells him that he needs to stay on top of taking care of the wound and that if he exhibits more symptoms, he needs to go to a hospital. Jack asks if they can leave and Calvin orders Jimmy to take them back to their truck. As they're leaving, however, they hear screaming and it becomes clear that a woman is giving birth in a nearby tent. Initially, Jimmy refuses to let them help Maxine, the woman in question but after it becomes apparent that there are complications, he permits it. Mel agrees to stay and help with the delivery, which later turns out to be a breech birth.
At the clinic, Hope arrives and informs Doc about her phone call with Joey and lack of knowledge of Mel’s whereabouts. Doc mentions that Bert told him about finding their car abandoned whilst Jo Ellen told Hope that Mel never came home last night. Vernon sets out to find Jack and Mel as he figures that they have gotten mixed up with the farm. Hope says that she is coming as well but Doc refuses as he believes she is needed at the bar and because of her recent heart attack.
Mel asks for Jack and Spencer’s help with supplies and supporting Maxine as she needs to deliver in a kneeling position.
Doc arrives at the site of Jack’s abandoned car to find the two missing. He spots the note written by Bert as well as Mel’s bag left in the car. He notices a weed infused beer can on the ground, which confirms his suspicions and he quickly runs back to his car.
Back at the camp, Mel is helping deliver the baby slowly but surely. As Jack helps her, he informs the parents that the baby is a boy, making them overjoyed. Eventually, Mel is able to deliver the baby and it gives it to the happy parents.
Charmaine arrives at the bar after Doc called him and told her that Mel and Jack are missing. She talks to Hope who tells her that Brady could use her help at the bar. Charmaine starts a conversation about her mother and tells Hope that she knows about the affair they had. Hope recounts her experience of it and tells Charmaine that her similar appearance to her mother serves as a constant reminder. Charmaine apologises for what her mother did but tells Hope that she cannot change her family and she is not the same person. Hope acknowledges the difficulty of having certain people as your family.
At the camp, Mel and Jack try to take Maxine, Spencer and their baby to the hospital but Jimmy informs them that Calvin will not let them go. Mel argues that she has a duty to care for her patients and Calvin’s decisions have nothing to do with her. Doc appears at the camp, surprised to see Maxine who apparently was not in contact with the camp members. Jimmy apologises to him for lying and says that Calvin did not want them to know that she was there. Vernon checks the baby as Mel tells him about what happened and he agrees that they should go to the hospital. Calvin appears and refuses to let the three of them go. Doc argues that Calvin is breaching his promise of letting him provide care for the camp members, leading to an intense stand off. When Calvin argues that they had an understanding but Doc replies that he is just stating facts. Calvin gives in and allows them to go to the hospital but remarks that Spencer must stay behind.
Arriving back at the bar, Jack and Mel share a drink and talk about the events of the past few days.
Doc arrives at Hope’s house to tell her that he was able to find Jack and Mel. Hope is thrilled and invites him inside. Vernon declines and informs her that he scheduled a meeting with the lawyer for tomorrow and agrees that they should go forward with the divorce as they have been separated for 20 years and it is time for the both of them to move on before walking away.
Jack walks Mel back to the B&B where they continue to talk about the pot camps. Jack tells her not to worry and to try and get some sleep. Seeing that she is worried, Jack agrees to sleep in his car outside to stay close. Mel, feeling guilty, asks him to sleep in the chair in her room and stay until she falls sleep. Both fall asleep but Jack experiences an intense and violent nightmare from his time in the Marines. He continues to sleep through it despite Mel waking and checking if he is alright. Eventually, he is awoken and imagines his fellow Marine Christopher Lonergan confront him and blame him for his death. Jack appears broken as Mel comforts him before he falls asleep once again. Mel is left in shock.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Colin Lawrence as John Middleton
- Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
- Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts
- Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea
- Tim Matheson as Vernon Mullins
- Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky
- Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
Guest Cast[]
- Trevor Lerner as Bert Gordon
- Ian Tracey as Jimmy
- David Cubitt as Calvin
- Chad Rook as Spencer
- Nicolette Pearse as Maxine
- Evan Ferraton as Man with Rifle
- Donal Thoms-Cappello as Tourist #1
- Rohan Campbell as Lonergan