Episode 4858

Extended Summary

Kirsty takes Geoff and Annie along to visit Irene in jail. Irene, looking pale and drawn, tries to put on a positive face for the kids’ sake, but Geoff and Annie aren’t fooled. They can see Irene’s doing it tough. Before they leave, Kirsty has a quiet word with Irene and tells her that although Lou hasn’t been tracked down yet, Kay, Irene’s laywer, is doing everything in her power to make sure he is. Everyone tries to rally around the kids, but while Geoff finds comfort in Claudia and prayer, Jai worries because he can’t seem to help Annie, and Kirsty confides in Alf that she is worried about how much longer Irene can cope in jail. Her concerns are well founded as Irene struggles to adapt to prison life – it’s like a different world to her. She’s devastated to be held in high regard inside, on the strength of “offing” her boyfriend, and even more so for shooting a cop. She tries to keep away from other prisoners, but quickly learns that anything you want can be found inside. – including alcohol. She steers clear of that but, when another long day finally comes to an end, Irene looks to find solace in sleep, but it doesn’t come easily. When her head finally hits the pillow, she discovers something hard under it. A bottle of gin has somehow been planted there. Irene quickly puts it out of sight , hiding it under magazines that Annie has brought her- not just to keep it away from the Guards eyes, but so that she isn’t tempted to open it. But as the night drags on, and sleep still evades her, will Irene be able to stay strong?

Hugo has a lot on his plate. He has growing feelings for Martha, he’s not long out of hospital after the shark attack, and his business is failing. He leaves Martha noticably offended by turning down her offer of help on his boat and having to deal with his cousin’s killer is the last thing he needs – but no-one’s told that to Angelo, who’s having his own tough time, being without doubt the most hated and despised person in town. After forensics confirm that the hand was bitten off by a Tiger shark and has been in the water for 8-12 weeks, Angelo pays Hugo a visit with some questions about the shark attack, but his queries are met with attitude. Angelo, who has even been getting lip from Jai, pulls rank and threatens to impound Hugo’s boat. Hugo complains to Charlie, who informs him that Angelo has no right to impound his boat – but matters would be made easier if Hugo could meet him halfway and answer his questions. Hugo grudgingly agrees but when Charlie tells Angelo, he no longer wants to know – his tyres have been slashed and he’s off to confront the suspect. Arriving at Summer Bay House, Angelo launches into Jai, demanding he confess to the crime. Kirsty flatly tells him he cannot conduct an investigation based on the fact that Jai was rude to him earlier, and that he must leave.

Angelo is causing problems for Charlie. She finds herself running around putting out spot fires that he’s created with Hugo, Kirsty and Jai. It seems he’s out of control and Charlie calls him on it. Angelo reckons he’s just trying to do his job, but Charlie thinks it’s time he toned down his threats – especially to Hugo, who is after all Jack’s cousin. Angelo asks if Charlie if sleeping with Hugo, and she is insulted he’s asking. He demands to know whose side she’s on – is she a cop, or is she one of the locals? Charlie assures him that she’s a very professional cop, and that he can rely on her. It’s enough for Angelo – at least for now.