Episode 6381

Extended Summary

Out running on the beach, Kat bumps into Dylan and they share a pleasant memory of their dinner the previous night – ending with Dylan offering to take her to dinner again tonight – with a two-for-one Mexican voucher in Yabbie Creek. Kat isn’t sure if she can make it yet – as her flatmate Hannah is having a big operation the next day and she may be needed at home…

Later in the day, when Dylan turns up with flowers for Hannah (off the back of Kat’s earlier comments), Kat is touched. Phoebe is concerned to see the two of them starting to get involved again and, when Dylan follows up with Kat about the dinner plans, Phoebe deliberately interrupts with clashing plans – and sends Dylan away without a second date. Kat calls her on it, but Phoebe is unapologetic – she can see trouble coming. Kat denies having any desire to get back with Dylan which makes Phoebe reiterate she did her a favour then. Kat, annoyed, tries to hide her disappointment.

It’s the day before Hannah’s prophylactic double mastectomy and she’s totally in control in her counselling session, with Chris at her side. Though Chris tries to encourage her to ask questions, Hannah is comfortable with her decision and heads home to round up the girls for a “send off” celebration lunch for her “old body”. She surprises Phoebe and Kat with jokes about choosing “Pamela” or “Charlize” sized boobs and the girls start inviting others for lunch.

Chris is increasingly alarmed at Hannah’s high spirits – and, after Alf advises him to find a way of dealing with it that is supportive to Hannah, he sets about doing some research. Chris runs his ideas about a Breast Cancer Support Group past Irene but doesn’t seem to hear her warnings, based on her experience, about it being a “personal journey”. Irene sets off to the girls’ lunch…

…Where the women talk candidly about mastectomies, nipple reconstruction and their own ideas about how they would (or, in Irene’s case, did) react to having this kind of surgery. While Hannah continues to crack hardy, Billie is perplexed by the jovial mood and, when Hannah exits to get some mint for more cocktails, Billie confides to the other that she would never have the operation “just in case” she got cancer. She compares it to never going surfing just in case there’s a shark. Without realising Hannah has returned, she talks about the extreme of “mutilating” her body – and Hannah rushes away, upset by the comment.

Chris finds Hannah on the pier, feeling rocked by Billie’s view – is she mutilating herself for no reason? Trying to help, Chris offers his solution of a Breast Cancer Support group, but Hannah is frustrated by everyone’s opinions and takes off again. When Chris runs into Billie, he chides her for upsetting Hannah. Billie is apologetic and explains she just couldn’t get her head around the idea of never seeing her body again the way it is, giving Chris a new idea.

Coming together again, Hannah apologises to Chris for losing it and admits she isn’t as “cool” with the operation as she wants to believe. He tentatively offers yet another idea…and this time it’s the right one. We cut to Hannah being photographed by Ricky, topless, as a “pre-op” souvenir. Hannah is shy, but helped through the session when Chris takes off his clothes to pose too. His making light of the moment relaxes Hannah. Their intimacy continues into the night, where they declare mutual love and fear.

Meanwhile, Ricky is surprised by Kyle’s decision to keep seeing Isla, and extracts a promise that he won’t get in too deep. However, when Kyle finds out she’s about to do another job for Dave, he offers Isla a place to stay and financial help. She’s grateful and they are soon jumping into bed – only to be caught by a very concerned Ricky. She’s worried after Kyle has turned over a new leaf, his association with Isla will only lead back to trouble… But Kyle is already in over his head.