Episode 4432

Extended Summary

Lucas watches, stunned, as a group of boys, egged on by each other, throw a chair at the window of Naomi’s van. Inside the van, she reacts with horror. Lucas starts forward, warning the boys off. Finally they disperse, and a deeply shaken Naomi emerges to thank him – but Lucas isn’t ready to soften and he storms away. Alf and Brad comfort Naomi, and Brad gently points out that she’ll only be facing more aggression from the community if she stays to fight the Education Department’s decision to stand her down. Naomi makes it clear that she won’t be leaving and she won’t be changing her mind, leaving Brad wary of the potential for trouble ahead.

Jack is more than wary – he’s angry, believing that Naomi has put her own pride before the welfare of his family. He confronts Naomi, forcing her to acknowledge that the true victim in all this is Lucas – her actions have ruined Lucas’s relationship with Tony and put his chance of a bright academic future in doubt. He pleads with her – this isn’t just about her needs, it’s about doing the right thing by Luc. Naomi takes in his plea, giving nothing away. But later Brad is taken aback when she offers him a letter of resignation. Naomi makes a tentative peace with Lucas, encouraging him to find a way to forgive Tony. She heads back to the city, leaving Lucas with food for thought. Tony approaches him tentatively, and is relieved when Lucas doesn’t push him away. It’s only a small step – but Tony desperately hopes it’s a start to their reconciling.

Meanwhile, Kit is surprised when Matilda tells her that she’s scared Ric is having an affair with the mystery woman she saw him with the day before. Mattie admits that she hasn’t been able to face any kind of intimacy with Ric since Beth’s death, but Kit still can’t believe that Ric’s gone out and found himself a new woman. She encourages Matilda to talk to him – but a confused Matilda hangs back. It’s only when Kit warns Ric to sort things out that Matilda learns the truth: he’d fixed the mystery woman’s car in return for her fixing Beth’s engagement ring. Ric makes Mattie understand all over again just how much he loves her – whatever happens in her life, he’s here for her. Mattie bursts into tears of relief and Ric holds her tenderly, young lovers finally reunited.

Love, however, is a trickier proposition for Kim and Rachel, who are treating themselves to a romantic night at a luxury resort in an effort to reignite their relationship. But even at the resort Kim’s thoughts turn to Kit and he calls her – little knowing that Rachel is outside, trying to call Hugh. Even so, these two are determined to resurrect their relationship and it seems they might a chance of finding their way back to their earlier love – until Rachel admits that she wants them to try and have a child together. Kim is stunned, overwhelmed at the thought of having two babies to two different mothers. Deep down, he’s also uncomfortably aware of his growing feelings for Kit. And when Rachel announces the news to a shocked Kit, his unease grows. But nothing could have prepared him for Kit’s announcement. She’s decided to leave to take baby Archie and leave the Bay.