Episode 3849

Extended Summary

It’s the day after Josie’s revelation to Jesse that she fears losing Tasha. A routine jog past the Blaxland gives Jesse a great idea to cheer her up; he’s going to treat her to a day out. It’s not a couple’s thing he assures a teasing Hayley, it’s what friends do. Hayley says that as his friend, she’s down with that (and if romance calls, don’t opt out on her behalf) but she’s going to keep a track on them; it’s what business partners do.

Josie ambushes Irene before her big visit to Ian Osborne in the city. She pleads with Irene not to do anything to jeopardise her relationship with Tasha. She admits she came to the Bay at the bequest of Osborne, and money was a partial motivator. But since then she’s grown to love Tasha and would do anything to keep that love. For a second it looks like Irene is tempted to believe her – but Josie’s cried wolf a few too many times. Irene will promise her nothing.

At Irene’s meeting with Osborne, he tells her the last few weeks of watching the beach house has taught him that they live in different worlds; different codes, different expectations and different limitations. But the one constant he identifies in her world is “warmth”, something lacking in his. He offers Irene $1 million dollars for her discretion and assistance in looking after Tasha. It’s to be split four-ways between her, Morag, Sally and Flynn. And it means the end of his relationship with Tasha. Irene is disgusted. In dialect that bridges both their worlds she lets him know what he can do with his money…”Shove it.” She storms off.

Out on the Blaxland, Scott is keeping out of Josie and Jesse’s way, happy in the knowledge that Dani has finished The Guv’s manuscript; tomorrow they’ll deliver it. Josie leans over and kisses Jesse tenderly – the kind of kiss that lovers share. Jesse is shocked; she’s never kissed him like that. Josie says she’s never wanted to before. Jesse leans over to respond, but Josie stops him. If this is serious, he needs to know the full story of why she came to Summer Bay.

In the city, Osborne manages to calm Irene long enough to tell her that the money was a “test”. He simply wanted to see that Irene was the woman she seemed to be on camera. He says the kindest thing he could do as a father, his lasting legacy, would be to make sure Tasha had as little contact with his world as possible. She deserves better. She deserves a woman like Irene. As for Josie Russell, what would Irene like done with her? Irene thinks briefly of revenge, but decides the best thing is to cut her loose; “let her be the human being she wants to be.” He accedes, and with a simple request that she keep him informed by email on Tasha’s progress, he lets her drive off.

Jesse isn’t letting Josie drive anywhere. He thinks her behaviour was justified. After all – there were millions of dollars at stake for Tasha. Josie says she has nothing in the world now except a stake in the bar. Jesse disagrees; she has a new life…if she wants it. As the setting sun signals the end of another day, Josie looks at Jesse and Scott and signals the beginning of a new day for her. “Let’s go home,” she says.