Episode 6243

Extended Summary

Kat dangles from the cliff, begging Billie to help her. Billie hesitates then crouches down and tries unsuccessfully to pull Kat up. Kat tells Billie that she’s going to give her the radio which is on her belt and that she’ll need to let go with one arm to do so. Billie clings to Kat’s arm as she grabs for the radio and gets it to Billie who radios out an SOS. Alf, searching with Ash and Phoebe, answers saying they’ll be right there. Billie throws the radio away and says she’s going to try again. Kat nods with closed eyes, hanging on for dear life. Between them they finally manage to heave Kat out of danger and both lie on the clifftop panting with adrenaline and relief. Billie sees that Kat’s leg is cut open, then Alf, Ash and Phoebe rush up. Ash sees Kat’s leg and immediately asks what Billie’s done, assuming the worst of her. Billie just stares ahead as Kat gasps out that it’s okay, Billie saved her life. Ash tries to talk to Billie but she’s completely unresponsive. He pleads with her to say something but has no effect.

Leah prepares food in the kitchen as Zac tries to reason with the insurance company on the phone, protesting that Leah couldn’t renew her insurance when she was unconscious. Oscar and VJ enter the house as Zac hangs up frustrated. Leah talks quietly to Zac saying perhaps it’s time to just face facts, it’s not going to happen. Oscar asks what’s wrong and despite Leah and Zac trying to shelter them he goes on to suggest himself and Evie moving out to ease the burden. Leah and Zac insist that they stick together as a family and both Oscar and VJ make an open offer to help.

Nate goes to tend to Kat and has to tell her to get back on the bed and rest. They joke a little before Kat confesses that while she was hanging from the cliff she thought she was going to die. Nate tells her she’s okay.

Nate tells Ash and Phoebe that Billie’s having her final chest x-ray before being taken to the burns unit in the city. Ash tries to reassure Billie but she’s still glazed over and seems to hear nothing. Nate assures Ash that she will be looked after in the city, including being seen by a psychiatrist. Ash tells Billie that he’ll be waiting when she comes out of x-ray. Ash then goes into Billie’s room and picks up her diary which he spotted earlier. He pauses then starts to read. Phoebe comes in, sees his expression and asks what’s wrong. Phoebe tries to calm an agitated Ash who’s really upset to find how much Billie hates herself, having read the awful things she’s written.

Leah and Zac continue to talk and Zac apologises for bringing no financial security to their relationship. Alf overhears them and goes in telling them that they are welcome to stay at the house as long as they need to and insists when they protest. They thank Alf and then go to the diner where Irene and Marilyn show them the donations, as well as a gift that they’ve made. It’s a scrapbook of photos that they’ve put together so that they have some keepsakes. Leah and Zac are touched by their friendship. John and VJ enter with John saying VJ wants Jett’s old job. Marilyn thinks it’s a wonderful idea, while Leah is worried that it might interfere with his schoolwork but VJ assures her that schoolwork will always come first, and then mentions that they need the money… Leah says yes, seeing how important this is to VJ but she doesn’t notice Zac’s expression, his feelings of financial failure rising.

Ash continues to talk to Billie, trying to tell her that she’s not a bad person despite the mistakes that she’s made. He talks about when their mum died, how both he and their brother Luke lost it but Billie didn’t, she held it together. Billie starts to respond visibly as Ash goes on, saying how amazing she is and that he loves her. Billie moves her head to look up at Ash, then breaks down and Ash holds her tightly as she sobs.

Zac walks in to find Oscar making flyers offering his services as a tutor. Zac says he doesn’t have to do that but Oscar lightly explains how he has tutored before and is happy to bring some money in to contribute, which Zac reluctantly agrees to. Alf who’s sitting nearby tells Oscar to knock ‘em dead as he leaves to distribute his leaflets. Alf mentions how good it is that Oscar’s willing to step up and help out but while Zac agrees that it’s great, he doesn’t like being unable to support his family. Alf reassures Zac that he’s been in his position and that they got through it with help from others, which there’s no shame in accepting.

Ash gets Billie some water and makes a light joke, putting her at ease. They talk about the help that Billie’s going to get and Billie tells Ash how scared she was when he was in hospital years ago, that he’s always made her feel safe and good about herself. Ash makes Billie look him in the eye and tell him that she didn’t start the fire, which she does sincerely. As Billie is prepared for her transfer to the city hospital, Kat thanks her. Billie shrugs it off saying that she made a lot of trouble for both Kat and Nate. Chris also arrives to wish Billie well, and she apologises to him too. Ash and Billie hug goodbye and after she’s pushed out in a wheelchair Ash stops Kat and tries to convince her that Billie didn’t start the fire, pointing out that if Billie didn’t start it someone else did…

Leah’s looking at the photos in the scrapbook gift. Irene checks in on her and thinks there might be something wrong. She talks to Marilyn about it and they decide to brainstorm for a fundraiser. Leah arrives home and tells Zac that she’s thought of a solution to their problems, she proposes selling her share of the diner. They walk through the caravan park discussing it and we see them from a shifty point of view. Who is watching them?