UK Air Date: 10th December 2007
Cat No: HAW5-638
Rachel and Brad are stunned to learn that they have a half-sister, Tam. Before they can come to terms with the situation, Tam is left behind by her mother who shoots through. A fast friendship is struck between fellow outsiders Tam and Rory.
Extended Summary
Jack meets Tam’s mother, Heather, and learns that they’ve been reduced to living in their car. Clearly mother and daughter are doing it hard, but Jack makes it clear that if Tam steals again, he’ll have no choice but to arrest her. Heather apologises, and then asks someone if they know how she can contact Brad Armstrong. Presuming Heather wants to enrol Tam in school.
Back at home, Rory apologises again to Jack for letting Tam steal his watch – and to his surprise, Jack makes him a gift of the watch. It’s a touching father-son moment, and Rory’s thrilled, but when a school bully steals it, poor Rory is left feeling like a failure. How can he get Jack’s watch back?
Meanwhile, Sally tries to reach out to Brad – but he’s cool and distant, not ready to forgive her for leaving him at the altar. But Brad’s troubles are put aside when he brings Tam and Heather to meet Rachel, announcing that Tam is in fact their half-sister!
Rachel shares Brad’s utter astonishment and shock as Heather explains that she had an affair with their father for years – and when she got pregnant, he immediately broke up with her and insisted on the child being kept a secret. Brad wonders why she’s telling them now, and Heather admits the real reason why she’s here: she’s struggling with a gambling addiction and needs someone to look after Tam while she goes into a rehabilitation programme for six weeks.
Brad and Rachel are reeling as they point out that they don’t have the time to look after a teenager – they both work demanding jobs and Brad’s living in a motel… Tam doesn’t say much, but she’s clearly hurt and angry that her new brother and sister seem to be turning their backs on her. To Heather’s dismay, Tam runs off – and Brad and Rachel are left with the unhappy realisation that they’ve handled things badly…
Tam crosses paths with Rory. Realising he’s down in the dumps, she offers to help him get his watch back. And to Rory’s amazement, she fronts the bully and does just that! A friendship is struck between these two outsiders – but the moment is broken when Rachel arrives to take Tam back to the house. Rachel and Brad apologise again for not being able to look after Tam and offer to help any way they can. But Heather takes matters into her own hands, leaving the Bay without a forwarding address, leaving Rachel and Brad with a truculent, angry and upset fifteen-year-old girl on their hands. What will they do with Tam?