Rough Places follows the lives of four women and of their home town, Coalport, once a busy industrial township. Not a story from the suffering industrial North of England, but South, far South, on the Pacific rim, just north of Sydney. Luce comes to terms with the loss of her husband, her changing status at home and in the community, her passion for the town's early history and her father's failing wits. Her son in law, Giaco's plans bring them dangerously close to conflict... Then dangerously close to making up. Marnie had polio as a child. Now, her legs growing weak again, it's time to reclaim adult pastimes. Before it's too late. Richard, the new Director seems willing... But there are four young runaways to care for. Peg, returning to Coalport, runs the dance school, stages the Pantomime, wonders about her childhood, her adoption. Her real parents: are they are still alive? And the life she left in England? Is that still alive, too? Lastly, Madge, as she often is: undemanding, unconsidered, cast aside, dropped upon. Her husband, Bernie, chair of the ERA council, pursues his PA Cheryl, his ambitions for redevelopment. Financed, of course, by Giaco. Then the earthquake: to force change, crush some plans, propel others forward, set lives moving in new directions.