he last two days in the Bay for Ollie were so full of surprises that even he didn't see it coming. Kirsty came home from the hospital after her miscarriage, to a quiet household, and sought comfort in the arms of Ollie whilst shutting Alf but more particularly Miles out. She went upstairs to lie down, after her ordeal, and didn't want anything that Miles had tried to offer her.
Whilst resting and recuperating in bed, Kirsty had a visitor in Colleen who had brought her a bouquet of flowers and wanted to see how the patient was feeling. Colleen offered her a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on if needed since neither Irene nor her Mother were there for her in her hour of need, especially since she's a woman and that women could really relate to and better understand these things than a man could. Kirsty shut down and drew the covers over her signalling that it was time that Colleen left which she did and she placed the bouquet of flowers on the bed. She had given Kirsty some food for thought and I guess that she was now digesting the contents of it.
Colleen came back downstairs to the kitchen where Alf and Miles were waiting for her with the news that Kirsty didn't want to talk as she was too upset and that Colleen tried her best to get through to her. Ollie was drawing at the dining room table and knew what the adults were talking about as he sensed that something was wrong. He questioned Miles by saying, "Is Mummy sad because the baby is gone?" at which point Miles went over to Ollie who was fiddling with a pencil, he kissed Ollie on the head and answers, "Yes mate."
Colleen suggested to Miles that maybe in these difficult times Kirsty would probably need her Mum especially as Irene wasn't there. This started the ball rolling as Miles was thinking about contacting Kirsty's Mum and after consulting with Alf, even though he suggested that Kirsty hadn't had contact with her mother in years and that Irene was more of a mother to her, he knew that someone needed to get through to Kirsty. Alf encouraged Miles to tread carefully though and to be prepared just in case this idea backfired on him due to the volatile nature of Kirsty's past with her mother.
Miles was at his wit's end as Kirsty totally shut him out and instead of him sharing the bed with Kirsty, it was Ollie who was now sleeping beside his mother, being her support and comfort to her. It was a huge task for such a young boy and it was a small gesture in order to get Kirsty through the tough times.
Kirsty was lying in bed with Ollie's side vacant and once she woke up, she wondered where he was so that he could give her a cuddle. To Kirsty's amazement she saw her Mum standing in the doorway. Shelley walked towards her daughter and embraced her as if time had healed all wounds. For Kirsty, it was just what the doctor had ordered. Shelley mentioned that Miles had called her and filled her in on what had happened. Kirsty was apprehensive about how her Mum would be after all the things that happened in the past but she reassured her daughter that it didn't matter and that she apologised about the loss of the baby. Kirsty described to her Mum about the pain that she felt and that she thought that it would go away but instead she was being hit by all the waves as she broke down in her mother's arms and wept.
Once she had comforted and talked to Kirsty, Shelley came downstairs to brief Miles on how she went with her daughter. Kirsty was going to leave the confines of the bedroom by getting dressed before going out. To Miles it was a breakthrough that he had been waiting for. Shelley reassured Miles that he did the right thing by calling her and that Kirsty wasn't angry with him for doing so.
"Stone the flamin' crows, Shelley Sutherland!" was Alf's greeting towards Shelley whom he hadn't seen in years. Alf had Ollie in tow and upon greeting this stranger to Ollie; he ran straight into the arms of Miles, curled up into a ball and the proceeded to act all shy. Miles introduced Ollie to "Mum's Mum" aka Grandma. To break the ice Shelley gave Ollie a gift bag and Miles apologised that Ollie isn't used to strangers but Shelley took it in her stride and said that it would take time to get to know each other. Kirsty watched on as this display was happening and took over the reigns by suggesting that Ollie take the present, to come with her and Grandma for a walk. So as the three of them left the house together, it gave Miles a chance to compute what had just happened.
Kirsty admitted to Miles that she liked having her Mum in the Bay and Miles then broached the subject of having a ceremony for the baby but she vetoed that plan. Miles was worried about Kirsty especially after her comments about not wanting the baby therefore she was being punished, but Kirsty shut him out again and avoided the subject before leaving to check on Ollie and her Mum. She also asked if Miles could sleep in another room as she wanted her Mum to sleep beside her.
Shelley really did approve of Miles and she also noted that it was obvious that Ollie thought the world of him but she could also sense that there was something more going on between Miles and Kirsty other than the baby - call it Mother's intuition. Kirsty's facial expression told the whole story far better than words ever could.
Ollie was once again by his Mum's side in bed which was a real comfort to her. Miles peeked in on them before he disappeared whilst Kirsty only opened her eyes once Miles was gone, signally another sign that she was shutting him out. Miles wanders off to the beach where he found Shelley as she sat there watching the waves. He asked her if she missed "it" and she answered that she knew why Kirsty came back - "it feels like home".
Shelley mentioned to Miles that Ollie crept into bed at 2 am and Miles remarked that he probably wanted to be close to his Grandma. Shelley also admitted that she and Kirsty stayed up to midnight as there was a lot to talk about. Miles enquired about how Kirsty was feeling and if she had opened up to her but Shelley was clearly holding information back as she politely replied that she mainly asked about her Dad and her sisters. Shelley also apologised to Miles for his loss of his and Kirsty's baby.
Shelley left and headed back to the City but not before advising Kirsty to talk to Miles as he was hurting too. Miles and Ollie saw Shelley off - Ollie got to help Grandma with her seatbelt, Miles took her bag and she told Kirsty that she would see her soon and that she loved her.
That night, Kirsty prepared a feast for the family to say thanks to everyone for their support. It was to be aptly named "The Last Supper" as that was the last time they were together as a family. Miles was enjoying himself and wanted to cancel his appearance at the P&C meeting but Kirsty persuaded him to go. They all seemed relaxed, jovial and very happy. As each family member left the room to go to their perspective appointments, Kirsty conversed with them for the last time knowing that she wasn't going to see them again. Romeo thanked Kirsty for dinner, Alf left to do his shift at the Surf Club, Nicole had a heart to heart with her before going to the Diner to collect her phone from Aden and last but not least, Miles heading off to the P&C meeting but not before Kirsty had a heart to heart with him and Ollie had a final cuddle.
I think that Ollie sums it up beautifully when he asked his Mum, "Where are we going?" when he saw the open suitcase and closes on the bed and after being told that they are going for a bit of a drive he then asked, "Is Miles coming?" Ollie knew that something was going to happen and realised that Miles wouldn't be coming on this journey with him.
Kirsty left Miles a note on his pillow in the bedroom that they once shared together before she took her bag downstairs and we saw her Mum had come back especially for her and Ollie. Shelley tried to persuade Kirsty to talk to Miles again but she admitted that although he would be hurting, that there was no future between the two of them anymore, there was too much pain and that she really needed her Mum's support.
After one last look around the house, after Shelley took Ollie, the book and his bag to the car, Kirsty left Summer Bay for good as she shut the door on another chapter of her life as she left behind all the good and bad memories plus all the heartbreak that Miles now had to deal with on his own. So as far as continuity goes Kirsty Phillips ran from the Bay once and now she's done it again, but this time with her son Ollie in tow and with Miles's heart shattered into a million pieces.
Kirsty left the coward's way by not saying goodbye to those who were nearest and dearest to her especially to all the friends that she had made along the way in the Bay and also no word to Irene who had been like a mother to her when she needed her the most. It was a very fitting way to leave though - three generations leaving the Bay for the very last time.
So as you can see, this fairytale doesn't have a happy ending for all concerned but we all hope that Ollie will live happily ever after with his Mum, Grandma and all his relative back in the City - until the next time we see him again.
Here are some of the comments from members about Shelley, Kirsty and Ollie as well as the departure of three generations from the show:
| Bringing Shelley back was an excellent idea and it worked really well. (AnnaB) |
| There was a very nostalgic feel about seeing her and Kirsty together in Summer Bay House. It also helps a LOT that they were both apart of the show during quite character focused times so there is a rich history there that feels 'real'. (Slade) |
| I love that she went straight to comforting Kirsty, and Kirsty opened up to Shelley like no time had gone by. It was great to see Shelley meet Ollie too. (caitrules) |
| I did really enjoyed the Shelley return,, because whilst yes there was holes, it did feel like a culmination, of a storyline they had perhaps inadvertently made happen that could be said to last 8 years from when Nick and Duncan decide to go to Kane's party and I actually believe that's the last time we'll ever see a Sutherland on the show. Actually, thinking of it, the way the show has went, there appears to be very few characters of the past 10 years who can plausibly return for anything. It's been rising of clans which ultimately roll through some branches and then die down. (Ryan) |
| I feel I had a lot invested in it because I loved Shelley the first time round and was eager to see if she could pick up where she left off. And she did! Perfectly! I don't really have any interest in this storyline but credit to all involved in today's episode, it was incredibly well written and acted out. Can't wait to hear what Kirsty's reasons will be. (angelstar1220) |
| I'm disappointed that Kirsty is shutting Miles out of her pain, a pain that they should be going through together. I know that Kirsty as the mother would be feeling a different kind of pain to Miles, but the fact remains that as a couple who love each other, they should be supporting each other. You can tell the way Kirsty looks at Miles and how she is acting around him that she now feels differently towards him. Only a few weeks ago they were talking about getting married. Now it seems that with Ollie and now Shelley in her life, Miles is getting left behind. Once again, Kirsty shows her immaturity by bailing on Miles without trying to talk things through like an adult. The problem throughout their whole relationship has been lack of communication, mostly on her part. Such a horrible way to leave things. Miles will be devastated. He doesn't deserve to be treated like that. Just when he thought they were starting to move forward and work through the miscarriage, she goes and does this! I can't believe she could be so two-faced about it. Miles will think if he never called Shelley, maybe Kirsty would still be with him??? (tw1057) |
| I don't care if she has to run away by herself, but taking Ollie with no warning is just cruel. They've been a family for something like six months now, and she's just ripped that apart, literally overnight. What would Jai say to having another little brother taken away from him so suddenly? I get how hard she's got it right now, and if it was just her running away I really wouldn't blame her, but Ollie didn't really get to say his goodbyes, did he? That poor kid is going to need so much therapy. (emmasi) |
| I've never really been a fan of Miles but tonight I really did feel for him. What a devastating way for a relationship to end made doubly so by the fact that a whole household had become devoted to not only Kirsty but Ollie as well. Josh did a great job playing a man who has had all of the fight knocked out of him and just doesn't want to fight any more. If anything he is just too calm. That concerns me. (john003au) |
| Christie's doing a great job at the lost mother. I think the emotional storylines suit her well, but in the form of 'lost, alone, blank' not 'emotional, heavy crying, etc.' She does the lost, blank look so well. I love watching Kirsty and Shelley's mother & daughter relationship. I don't really know/remember their previous relationship, but currently it's really nice. (flyingwithoutwings) |
| Kirsty is such a coward! Ran away again when things were too tough! At least have the decency to tell Miles then leave with your mum in public. (dnp52td) |
| Just when Kirsty is about to redeem herself she goes and does that, I know she's going through a rough time but so is Miles, he lost a child a few years ago and just lost another, breaking up in a letter is definitely not the way. (WillowsTara) |
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We're exchanging Ollie for Bambang? No thanks. I'm shocked at the suggestion that Bambang would be a potential threat to Ollie's 'CutestSoapChildEver' crown for some. I'm sorry but Oliver still runs rings around many of his fellow adult cast members let alone he's the cutest of cuteness. I'm distraught at the thought of losing him. As for the episode, it was rather depressing but I loved it. Had a great family feel running through it and I too was rather nostalgic to see Shelley return to Summer Bay let alone the Caravan Park, her conversing with Alf and Colleen. It felt like old times, times when I absolutely adored the show. And acting wise, Christie and JQT have done a great job with this storyline. I'm a bit disappointed though for the sake of continuity that they didn't touch on Kirsty's previous miscarriage (they sort of swept that under the rug last time and have done so again it seems) or Shelley's own (which lead up to Rhys straying to the deliciously wicked Angie). I thought Shelley was a brilliant choice to be Kirsty's confidante but they didn't even touch on that. Continuity's a wonderful thing but it seems Summer Bay and its residents have the shortest of memory spans with little to no aftermath of any major event these days. |
| The aftermath of Kirsty's departure is devastating for Miles and its been great to watch - last week he had a ready made family with a kid on the way, far cry from his current situation. (alexx) |
| That's why I loved Kirsty's exit. Running away from her problems IS a way of life to her and it always has been. If she'd stuck around to talk to Miles and then left, it just wouldn't have felt right for Kirsty. (ebrett84) |
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The comment about 'when will it stop hurting' I think was supposed to reflect Shelley knew what it was like but this only seemed to highlight that Kirsty herself seemed to have forgotten she had a previous miscarriage duh ! Like that is something you forgot. On the point of Kirsty's exit I think it was brilliantly done. We may not like what she did but it is very fitting for the character. Kirsty has always been a 'runner'. When things got tough Kirsty did a runner. It is a family trait: Danni, Shelley and Rhys have all done runners at some time or another. So I think it is totally in-keeping for the character and the perfect way to leave it shows that for all the growing up she has done she is still the same old Kirsty. When things get tough Kirsty runs. She has gone full circle. |
Click here to read what our members thought of Ollie's time in Summer Bay.