Episode 1 -The Funeral and Another Embassy Dinner

Episode 1 - The Funeral & Another Embassy Dinner - Free to Download!

Episode 1 opens in silence. A coffin rests in the cemetery, bordered by endless paddocks where cattle and sheep wander, with crops stretching out across the sunlit plains and beyond. At the head of the procession walks a beautiful woman, carrying a photo. Her presence lingers long after the moment passes—beneath skies washed with light, the horizon unbroken across the country where the story begins.

From this graveside moment, the narrative turns. The episode steps back three months, into a world of country football, planes tracing the skies, and conversations that link private grief with public lives.

What Awaits in This Episode

The story opens in a gripping mix of rural life and unfolding drama. A funeral framed by open country sets the tone, emotions running high among a close-knit family. The narrative then turns back to a country football match — hard contests on the field, banter in the sheds, and celebrations cut short when one must leave for an embassy dinner, with jokes still flying as goodbyes are said.

At the farm airstrip, the plane waits ready as bags are packed and farewells made before a flight south to Perth. Along the way, conversations turn to stock and cropping plans before hints emerge of deeper truths—a trust fund, a secret meeting, and preparations for the evening’s event. Meanwhile, an A380 touches down in Perth from Sydney, adding to the sense that pieces are moving into place.

Themes of Episode 1

Episode 1 contrasts silence and noise, duty and belonging. The quiet gravity of a funeral set against the open land stands apart from the rough energy of country football, where banter in the sheds keeps spirits high. In this shift, the story places family and community at its centre, showing how private lives move within public moments.

Travel and movement introduce another layer. From the farm airstrip to Perth, conversations turn from farm management to deeper matters—trust, obligation, and decisions that reach beyond the present. The contrast between rural life and diplomatic circles sets the stage for questions of identity, commitment, and the unseen ties binding people together.

Photo by By Eddie Blair on Unsplash

Why You Should Read This Episode

Episode 1 introduces Sam, his family ties, and the rural setting that anchors the story. From the footy oval to the sheds, celebrations are cut short as he heads to an embassy dinner, with farewells made before the flight south. This first chapter sets in motion threads that will carry forward—a trust fund, a secret meeting, and obligations that reach well beyond the farm. And in Perth, the question lingers: who got off the flight from Sydney?

This is where the world of Never Is as Close as Tomorrow begins. The ordinary rhythms of country life collide with unexpected turns, offering the first glimpse of the people and choices that will shape everything to come.

Photo by By Troy Mortier on Unsplash