UK Air Date: 10th May 2016
Writer: Hannah Carroll Chapman
Director: David Gould
Cat No: HAAW08-160
Zac returns home from prison but is hiding something. Olivia is set up by Lindsay with an incriminating photo. Skye recognises her self-worth despite her unrequited feelings for Oscar.
Extended Summary
Leah receives a call from Morag informing her Zac has been cleared and he will be home the following day. Alf suggests celebrating but Leah confides she doesn’t know what to expect as Zac hasn’t spoken to her since his incarceration. Leah breaks the news to Hunter, VJ, Evelyn, Oscar and Josh about Zac’s imminent return. They come up with ideas on how to welcome him home and seeing the kids move into action Alf assures Leah that things look like they will return to normal in no time. The kids prepare a Welcome Home sign as Leah prepares to drive to the city and collect Zac. However, Zac walks through the door having been let out of jail early. They gently welcome a somewhat trepidatious Zac home.
After seeing Lindsay with Hunter in the diner, an upset Olivia returns home to a consoling Skye. Skye tries to explain that Hunter is going through a lot at the moment and may not be thinking straight. Olivia doesn’t want to cut him any slack. Olivia seeks refuge in the shower. Skye comforts her and has to ask….is she cutting again? Olivia assures he she is not and Skye suggests a day of chick flicks and junk food to a somewhat buoyed Olivia. But when Skye heads out to stock up on trashtastic magazines and junk food she runs into Oscar. While Oscar breaks the good news about Zac’s homecoming to her, she is still a little awkward after she was outed last week as having a crush on him.
It’s business as usual at the house, with VJ pressing Zac about life in gaol and Hunter poking him for a basketball game. However, Zac snaps back when they push a little too hard, leaving VJ, Hunter and Leah quiet. As Zac leaves the room, Leah morosely considers what to do. Leah finds Zac in their bedroom and tries to talk to him about it, but Zac brushes her off and insists on going for a walk by himself.
Skye and Olivia delve into chick flick land, their faces adorned with pore strips. VJ is a little nonplussed by the vibe when he walks in, then suggests they attend a beach party he’s heard about. Olivia is quick to take him up on the offer despite a reluctant Skye. As Olivia gets ready, VJ opens up to Skye about Zac’s moody return from gaol. Meanwhile Leah checks in with Hunter about his breakup with Olivia. Hunter is at a loss as to how to rectify it but Leah suggests he make it up to her and demonstrate he won’t do it again. He asks how Zac is doing – Leah covers, not wanting to worry Hunter. Olivia, Skye and VJ turn up to the beach party only to discover that troublemaker Lindsay is the host. VJ and Olivia decide to stay despite Skye’s insistence they should leave. Lindsay, the agent of chaos once more, pays a hot guy to crack onto Olivia in a conniving plan to set her up. Lindsay’s hot friend makes his moves on Olivia who does her best to rebuff him, but Lindsay takes a photo and uploads it on social media.
Leah tries to fuss over Zac and brings him up to date on Hunter and Olivia’s break up. She implores him to talk to her and let her in on what’s going on for him. Zac reassures he that he is happy to be home. Later on, Alf, Leah, Zac and the kids share dinner and joke about all the Summer Bay news. Afterwards Oscar, Evelyn and Josh head to the diner and run into an awkward Skye, who stands up for herself and reminds Oscar of her self-worth. However, Hunter sees the incriminating photo of Olivia set up by Lindsay and confronts her. Olivia tells him that nothing happened, but despite that, who she kisses is her business. She tells him to leave.
Leah is awake late, struggling to know how to help Zac. She consults Alf, who advises her to wait until he’s ready to discuss it. Alone upstairs, Zac unpeels the source of his trauma – a semi-healed wound, where he was stabbed in prison.