UK Air Date: 23rd March 2005
Cat No: HAW4-928
A new arrival shocks Summer Bay. Irene receives some terrifying news.
JOSIE RUSSELL (LAURIE FOELL)
Third appearance, last seen in Episode #3802. Left the Bay after making her acquaintance with Tasha.
DYLAN RUSSELL (BRETT HICKS-MAITLAND)
Return appearance, last seen in Episode #3801. Visited Irene after learning of Josie’s surprise arrival.
EMMA DALLIMORE (BROOKE CALLAGHAN)
Second appearance, last seen in Episode #3722. Rushed to inform Sally of “Angie’s” shock appearance at the school.
Extended Summary
Irene is furious at Josie Russell’s sudden arrival in Sumer Bay. Tasha is over the moon. She’s obsessed with everything about Josie. Josie’s appearance at school causes consternation amongst the students and teachers who think she’s the reincarnation of Angie Russell!
Josie’s got things to do” like mend fences with Irene! Irene lays down the law to Josie. She had no right to come to the Bay. They had a deal and she broke it. Josie says she overrode Irene’s insecurities because in the end, she is Tasha’s relative, and she has more right than Irene to be involved with her. She invites Irene to meet her at the Diner when she’s is ready to talk.
Meanwhile at school, Tasha’s excitement is so disruptive to the class that Sally tells her to go and spend the rest of the day with Josie.
Josie is causing a huge stir at the Diner. And Alf reckons she’s enjoying it. Irene approaches Josie at her table. She’s ready to negotiate. She’s accepted Josie’s right to have access to Tasha, but first she wants to know everything about the past (except for the name of Tasha’s father). And secondly, it’s up to Josie to tell Tasha everything. Josie agrees.
Irene calls Dylan to come to the Bay. She tells him the story – warts and all. Josie walks with Tasha at the Surf and tells her the same story with sugar on top.
The story given to Irene was that Josie was the 20-year-old mistress of a very rich man, Ian Osbourne. When Josie couldn’t make a date one night, she asked Angie to call in sick for her. Angie pulled a swiftie and visited Osbourne, fooling him into thinking she was Josie. She slept with him. Josie found out and stopped talking to Angie. When Angie fell pregnant with Osbourne’s baby (Tasha), Osbourne paid her to stay quiet and Angie adopted out the baby. Josie threatened to disown Angie if she didn’t give Osbourne’s money to the adoptive parents. Angie did this, and also left two letters; one explaining her motives, the other naming the father. When Angie died, Mrs Andrews the foster mother tracked down Josie to tell her about the funeral. Josie had become a brothel Madam. She refused to go to the funeral, and thereafter, Angie’s mum slipped into dementia. The secret of Josie went with her, until Irene started sleuthing.
At the end of the story that Josie had given to Tasha, Tasha says she loves Josie more than ever. Irene tells Dylan she doesn’t trust Josie a jot. Later, Irene and Tasha say goodbye to Josie and Dylan. At that moment Peter Baker calls with some awful news. Sarah has broken out of the psychiatric institution!