Outrageous Fortune chronicles the lives of the West family, who have always done things the less-than-legal way. However, when Dad Wolfgang West gets sent to jail for four years, his family receives a very sharp wake-up call.
Mum Cheryl decides that it is time for her family to get out of the crime game once and for all. No more robbing, ripping people off or lying. However, for this family, breaking the habits of a lifetime is much easier said than done.
“Van and Munter proudly announce their new calling and business venture. They are now The Tool Guys, a 24 hour on-call handy service, doing handy things. They even have outfits and a leaflet. They are disappointed when this is greeted with general derision by their nearest and dearest; and Grandpa is sure they won’t last. Only Falani seems to take them seriously, especially when he finds they have no actual tools. He already seems to have an ulterior motive – they can case houses and their contents – but the Tool Guys miss this as they’re on their first callout from Karen, an attractive woman who wants their services. But Munter susses that she seems to be after the tools that are not on their belts, even though she also has a blocked gutter. What are they to do? Munter wants to leave, but Van doesn’t think this would be professional. So he does the lady, while Munter does the gutter. But now Munter reveals that he wanted to do the lady, even though he is on with Kasey – so when Karen has a friend who wants their services, he’s very tempted. Van won’t allow it, and nobly does the work of two men. To shield himself from further temptation, Munter asks Kasey to marry him. But she turns him down.
Munter is hurt, and when another friend of Karen wants their services, he’s determined to do it. Van, alarmed, makes Munter stay put at the pub, while he gives Kasey a warning. But when he warns her she should reconsider or other hot chicks might be in, Kasey is on the warpath. Who’s the bitch who’s hitting on Munter? Van assures Kasey that Munter is safe at the pub, but when they arrive, he’s gone. Falani helpfully adds fuel to the fire, and Kasey demands the woman’s address. Kasey arrives with violence on her mind – to find Munter innocently fixing a shower. Kasey feels terrible for doubting him. (But only now we find that Van gave her the wrong address and arrived in time to interrupt Munter on the job with his hot client). Kasey, unaware, changes her mind. She does want to marry Munter.
The Tool Guys have realised that business is full of ethical pitfalls. They return Falani’s tools, and for a moment it might look as though they’re over before they’ve begun. But no, the guys are on a new path – where they buy actual tools with actual money, and furthermore there will be no nookie on the job, even if their clients beg.
Pascalle, meanwhile, has been left a precious gift by an old lady at the Janet Frame: a jigsaw and a ruby necklace. While she decides whether to keep the necklace, she decides to complete the jigsaw, since she’s been told they contain the meaning of life. Loretta is persuaded to help, but soon becomes frustrated, and Cheryl agrees they’re completely pointless. But now Pascalle has sucked Grandpa and Judd into the jiggy vortex. So much so that Judd puts aside security plans he’s meant to be drawing up and Pascalle calls in sick so they can complete the quest, and find the meaning of jiggy. Which may be: that Loretta and Cheryl are on the same side for a change, or that Grandpa is bonding with Pascalle. Or, that as Grandpa queries Judd’s security gig, Judd starts to see that Grandpa might have something useful to offer. And everyone hates Kasey (because she’s a jigsaw nightmare who stuffs pieces in the wrong places) so they are less than sympathetic to her marriage woes. In the end, after an exciting denouement involving a missing piece, Pascalle finds her sense of peace and completion – and also decides to keep the necklace. And Grandpa and Judd seem to be about to go into business together. And Cheryl finally gets her table back.“ www.outrageousfortune.co.nz