Everyone is worried about Martha and after a sleepless night, they step up the search. Rachel has her hands full setting limits with Tam. Sally’s finding it difficult to keep up with her enormous workload.
Extended Summary
Everyone is worried about where Martha is and some, like Alf, spend a sleepless night before resuming a search for her again the next morning. It’s Annie who finally hears Jonah’s cries for help from the depths of the mine and a rescue mission is launched. While Jonah can communicate with the rescuers via the air vent, even he doesn’t know if Martha is dead or alive having heard nothing from her since they were separated during the last cave in. The rescue operation is treacherous as the mine becomes increasingly unstable, and getting Jonah and Martha out is clearly a race against time.
To the great relief of the rescuers Jonah is finally freed, but McGrath deems it too dangerous to continue looking for Martha. Alf won’t hear of calling off the search – he’s certainly not giving up. To everyone’s surprise Jonah isn’t either. Joined by Geoff, and a reluctant McGrath, another attempt to find Martha commences. She’s eventually found alive, but bruised and shaken. Finding Martha proves easier than getting everyone back to the surface in one piece as the mine starts collapsing in on itself. Everyone eventually makes it out alive, but Martha is left with conflicting and confusing feelings towards Jonah. The man she’s been confined at close quarters with, bares little resemblance to the man she previously encountered.
Rachel comes home from work to find the TV blaring, the place in a mess, and no sign of anyone. As she’s about to do a “ring around” to find out what’s going on, Tam arrives home. She informs Rachel that Jack, Sam and Rory have gone to the mountains on the spur of the moment for a few days holiday, and that she’s been out. As Tam was supposed to stay in for the evening they argue over this. Tam doesn’t see what the problem is. Next day Rachel suggests they go on a picnic and Tam reluctantly agrees. They have a good day together, but later at the Diner, when it’s nearing time for Rachel to go to work they argue again. Tam wants some money to go out, but Rachel refuses to give her any. She’s fifteen and she’s to stay home. As Rachel gets set to head home to get ready for work she realizes that Tam, and Rachel’s purse, are missing.
Without Brad, Cassie and Ric around to help out, Sally’s finding it difficult to keep up with her enormous workload. The responsibilities of looking after the house, the caravan park, school duties and taking care of Pippa are slowly overwhelming her. The pressures are exacerbated when Hodge announces that the school staff is considering calling a stop work meeting as they feel Sally’s commitments are having a detrimental effect on the school.
Things get even worse when Pippa comes down with a fever. Colleen is drafted in to help out with Pippa and when she realizes just how Sally is struggling she talks to Brad and tries to get him to come home and help out. Brad can’t do that, but he does the next best thing. He goes to the city and chats to Cassie. And just as Sally feels she can’t cope any longer Cassie arrives home to help out.