Episode 4872

Extended Summary

It’s finally the day of Irene’s release and while her homecoming is being kept low key, Annie and Geoff in particular are very excited. Belle however sees a problem. She knew Irene had been drinking in prison and confides to Aden that she’s not sure how easy it will be for her to stop now that she’s home. Aden is adamant that the kids need to be told about Irene’s drinking, so that they can all confront it together. Belle brings a pale, and still shaken, Irene home. Delighted to be home, Irene is thrilled to see everyone and Annie hopes that now everything will return to normal. When Irene returns from going to see Leah, Belle puts it to Irene that she should tell Annie and Geoff about her drinking. Irene swears she’ll tell them herself – tomorrow – and Belle goes along with that, heading off to meet Geoff and Claudia down on the beach. When the coast is clear, Irene pulls a bottle of grog out of her bag, clearly battling with her temptation. She heads out to clear her head, but while down on the beach she’s confronted by Lou’s wife, Donna, who calls her a murderer and a gold digger, and threatens to fight Irene in the courts. Thrown by the attack, Irene heads straight home to her bottle of grog. However she isn’t alone, as Annie comes downstairs to find Irene drinking straight from the bottle. Shocked, she heads back upstairs without alerting Irene to her presence.

The tension between Hugo and Martha continues, with Hugo asking Xavier to take Martha’s mail to her after letting it build up for a few days. Alf is still unsure about Martha living out at the farm by herself, but Martha insists that she is fine, and by being there she can concentrate fully on setting up the business. Her fruit and veg are already gaining interest, with local shopkeepers keen on taking any produce she can supply once she is up and running. Its obvious that Martha is still avoiding Hugo however, with her instead asking Alf if he can help out on the farm that afternoon. Xavier catches up with Martha at the diner, and the awkwardness prompts Xavier to later confront Hugo about his feelings for Martha. Hugo doesn’t want to talk about it, which annoys Xavier – what was the point of Hugo moving to the bay if he never wants to confide in his brother? Hugo heads down to Noah’s Bar where Alf tells him that his shark cage and other gear is ready to pick up from Mangrove River. On the way out he bumps into Martha, and the awkwardness causes Alf to ask Martha if everything is alright between them. She simply states its a long story. Hugo heads home and apologises to Xavier for getting him caught up with his feelings for Martha, which Hugo has now admitted to having. Now friends again, the brothers head out to pick up Hugo’s equipment.

Miles, knowing that Roman’s life is in danger, now Gardy knows he doublecrossed him, has told Charlie the whole story. Charlie immediately starts a search for Roman, and also sets about trying to protect Nicole, Miles and his family. While all available manpower is thrown at the case, there’s no sign of Gardy or Roman anywhere around the Bay.

Roman and Gardy are back at the warehouse on the wharf. This time it’s just the two of them who will complete the robbery. Roman, who is being forced into helping, convinces Gardy not to start the attack until all the workers go home, and then they will only have to deal with the two security guards inside. After the last of the workers leave, Gardy and the reluctant Roman storm the building. They easily overpower the guards and a clerk who was working back, and Gardy orders Roman to “finish them off.” Roman instead manages to lock them in a room. Furious Gardy decides to do the job himself and Roman realises he’ll have to fight Gardy to stop him from killing the hostages.

Roman has the initial advantage of surprise, but he and Gardy end up in a Mexican standoff. Roman finds the courage to pull the trigger…..but nothing happens. Gardy removed the firing pin from Roman’s shotgun. After expressing his surprise at Roman finally finding his guts, Gardy shoots Roman.