It could be the political mean streets of any city, in any country, in the world.
A city councillor, once young and idealistic, has become cynical, weak and saturated with booze as the power, the women, the strip clubs and the payments from corrupt businessmen sap his will.
Beatings, murder, adultery and inappropriate use of photocopiers bubble up until the dam holding back a cesspool of filth bursts, overflows and forth spews a river of depravity and graft through the august halls of local government. It could happen in Dunedin.
Could it?
Probably not; this society is too decent.
But in other places? You bet!
It is precisely what is happening in Blackout's northern metropolis, a city producer Matthew Bird has been reported as describing as a cross between Manchester and Gotham City.
Our councillor - drowning in a pit of alcoholism and cronyism - is Daniel Demoys, played by former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston.
Eccleston has starred in quality television shows such as Inspector Morse, Poirot, Cracker and one of the best shows of all time - League of Gentlemen.
He was also in films G. I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and Gone in 60 Seconds but, hey, you have to pay the bills.
Eccleston, of course, is from Salford, a borough of Greater Manchester.
So he fits in well as Demoys, whose northern soul is beginning to unravel spectacularly.
Talk about drink!
He guzzles spirits straight from the bottle as he begins his drive to work - and he is in the driving seat.
He slugs red wine at a city do, then goes clubbing, skolling tequila slammers at the bar before stumbling with intent after a dancing girl.
He is probably too sloshed to hear the foreboding background music.
If he did he might not have ended up with photocopies of a contract for city services in a back alley with the corrupt businessman, who starts to threaten him.
If he did he may not have woken the next day with blood all over his shirt, and the businessman in hospital, beaten within an inch of his life .
And if he hadn't drunk so much he might remember if he was the one what done it.
But he doesn't.
So far all well and good (or not).
But then the writers open a can of cats and throw them, and some worms, into the Pandora's box of pigeons.
Demoys saves the day with an act of selflessness, runs for mayor, and sets up a nail-biting part two of the three-part drama on SoHo, tonight at 8.30pm.
Blackout is a gritty rain-soaked neo-noir tale of corruption and - perhaps - personal redemption.
Let's just hope election year in Dunedin is so dramatic.
- Charles Loughrey
