Release

Shank co-creators Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin reteam to craft this tense prison drama detailing the forbidden love affair between a troubled inmate, and an emotionally vulnerable guard. When young clergyman Jack (Daniel Brocklebank) goes to prison for an unspecified crime, the church turns its back on him. Later, rumblings amongst inmates lead to rumors that Jack is in prison for pedophilia, a revelation that makes his new adolescent cellmate Rook (Wayne Virgo) markedly nervous until Jack saves him from a vicious beating. Afterword, when the rest of the inmates turn on Jack, he finds an unlikely savior in the form of compassionate prison guard Martin (Garry Summers). Before long Jack and Martin have fallen in love, their affair giving Jack a newfound hope for a happy future. But it all starts to fall apart when Max (Bernie Hodges), the ruthless leader of a powerful prison gang, catches wind of their relationship and passes the word along to Governess Heather (Dymphna Skehill), who suspends the guard for improper conduct. Later, Jack suffers a vicious beating at the hands of Max, and spends his recovery time reading love letters from Martin. But when Father Elliot (Dave Jones) shows up to probe Jack about his plans for the future, his hope for a happy life together with Martin quickly begins to unravel.