Episode 4481

Australian Air Date: 13th August 2007

Rachel decides to tell Brad the ugly truth about Henk. Tony is desperate to find Geoff somewhere to live. Matilda is ready to make some drastic lifestyle changes in the lead-up to the HSC.

Extended Summary

Living arrangements in Summer Bay are in a state of flux. Matilda, having flunked her HSC trial maths exam, now knows that she has a heap of work to do if she’s going to pass her HSC exams at her first attempt, and she’s decided she needs to makes some lifestyle changes to ensure that happens. She enjoys sharing the Diner Apartment with Martha but has been finding it difficult to study there, and has decided to move home, at least until after the exams. Lucas is delighted with her decision. But as Matilda is ready to move into the Holden House, Jack, Sam and Rory are set to move out. Rachel’s offered to have them move in with her and they’ve decided it’s an excellent idea. The various moves are completed with the minimum of fuss.

Geoff has also been forced into moving house, his Pop having booted him off the farm after discovering that it was Geoff who poisoned the prized and expensive sheep breeding stock. Geoff has turned to the only person he knows who cares about him enough to help out, Tony. Tony initially arranges for Geoff to stay with Irene and Belle, but after an unfortunate incident where Belle thinks that Geoff was spying on her in the shower, Geoff decides he can’t live there any longer. Geoff really wants to return home, and Tony implores Bruce to take him back, but Bruce is adamant that the boy is no longer welcome on the farm. Running out of options Geoff is alone in the diner and is verbally attacked by Lucas we are surprised by the venom in the attack that Lucas throws at him. At breaking point Geoff is crying by the time Lucas finishes. Just as Lucas is just about to leave we suddenly see the caring and forgiving side of Lucas, next thing Lucas turns up at home with Geoff in tow surprising both Tony and Matilda.

Rachel, having left Henk a message telling him not to come to Brad and Sally’s wedding, is unsettled as she waits for Brad to confirm that Henk can’t be his best man. Instead Henk calls Rachel. He tries to reassure her that he’s a changed man and that she has nothing to fear from him, but Rachel isn’t interested. She tells him in no uncertain terms that she doesn’t want to see him anywhere near Summer Bay and hangs up on him. Thinking that would put an end to Henk coming to the wedding, Rachel is alarmed when Brad gleefully informs her that Henk has confirmed that he’ll be his best man. Uncertain of what to do next, Rachel confides in Leah. She tells her the whole sorry saga of her nightmarish trip to Fiji with Henk that culminated with Henk climbing into her bed and forcing himself on her. Leah is shocked by the story, and is adamant that Rachel has to tell Brad about what happened. Even though it will disrupt the wedding plans temporarily, Leah is certain that Brad would rather know the truth, than have Rachel going through the hell that she is currently constantly re-living. Leah finally wins Rachel over, but just as Rachel gathers enough strength to go around and unburden herself to Brad, he turns up on her doorstep…with Henk, who’s arrived early!