Episode 4464

Australian Air Date: 19th July 2007

Belle is stunned to realise that Jazz is encouraging Drew to see other girls. Lucas and Naomi have a tense showdown. Is Geoff in danger from a prank gone too far?

Extended Summary

Drew might have agreed to move in with Jazz, but he’s avoiding her by spending all his time with Belle. Leah is surprised to hear this and questions him. He always made it clear that he hated Jazz, so why did he suddenly decide to live with her? Leah’s shocked and disappointed when Drew admits that there’s only reason he moved in: Jazz brought him a car. But Jazz’s plan to bind Drew closely to her isn’t working. She’s trying hard to win him over, and finally hits on the one offer he can’t resist, telling him that he can have Belle sleep over any time he likes. Belle’s happy, too, but points out that Irene is never going to let it happen. Drew thinks there’s a simple solution – they’ll tell Irene that they’ll be in separate rooms. And, to their surprise, Jazz backs up their story to Irene. Drew couldn’t be happier, and Belle thanks Jazz for letting them stay together – this really means a lot to her. Jazz smiles, casually telling her it’s okay – any of Drew’s girlfriends will always be welcome to stay. Belle’s thrown by what she’s just heard. “Girlfriends?” Jazz: “Well, it’s not like you’re about to settle down. You’re both too young.” Jazz has no idea that she’s left Belle shell-shocked by her attitude. And Drew has no idea what’s wrong when Belle suddenly announces that she won’t be staying the night after all. Belle makes a hurried exit and Drew turns back to his mother – did she says something to Belle to make her take off like that? Jazz shrugs – she isn’t really sure – as Drew shakes his head and stomps off upstairs. Leaving Jazz puzzled that her plan to make Drew happy just went very wrong…

Meanwhile Naomi is disturbed to find Lucas asleep outside her house. She calls Jack to pick him up and a tense discussion between the brothers sees Lucas explaining that he isn’t stalking Naomi – he’s been watching her to get material for a story he’s writing about their failed relationship. Jack’s not impressed and makes it clear that if Lucas doesn’t leave Naomi alone, there is every chance that she’ll take out an AVO on him – a charge that will go on his record and follow him for the rest of his life. Lucas has been given food for thought but it’s Naomi who takes matters into her own hands, turning up at the house after a call from Jack and demanding to read this story Lucas is writing about her. Lucas is reluctant but Naomi pressures him and he relents. She’s taken aback at the intensity of the story – and by Lucas’s admission that he didn’t write the story to be published – but as a way of finally putting the pain of their relationship behind him. Naomi points out that he’s done what she told him to do and channelled his anger into his writing, and now he’s got a publishable story, something that could be his first step in a writing career. “So it’s not all black, Luc.” She heads out, leaving Lucas thoughtful and alone.

If Tony wasn’t so busy, maybe he’d be there to help Lucas. But he’s putting all his energies into training the footy team, and is frustrated by their unimpressive performance. It’s Geoff who speaks up, dobbing the guys in for partying hard since their last win. Geoff’s already unpopular with his team-mates, who’ve been keeping the ball from him, and Tony pulls him aside to point out that if he doesn’t find a way to get on with the other guys, the performance of the whole team will suffer. Taking Tony’s words to heart, Geoff tries to be friendly – and to his surprise the other guys seem to accept him. What he doesn’t realise is that they’re relishing the chance to pay out on the new guy. Aden pressures Geoff into drinking, encouraging him to the point where Geoff passes out. But the guys haven’t finished with him yet. At Aden’s urging they carry the unconscious Geoff out to Tony’s car and lock him in the boot. What they don’t realise is that Geoff has drunk enough to give himself blood alcohol poisoning. Is this prank about to go too far…?