Episode 6449

Extended Summary

Ash and Kat are still at odds over the fallout of him warning Andy about Josh. Kat continues to snub Ash, much to his annoyance. Josh, meanwhile, has left for his camping trip with Evelyn, who hopes the time alone together will help bring a sense of normality back to their relationship.

With Leah away and Alf in a coma, Zac’s left to hold the fort at Summer Bay House until he receives the shocking news that Hunter attacked Andy with a pair of scissors. Worried for his son, Zac hurries to the Station, where Kat pushes aside her own issues with what’s happening in order to bring him up to date – Andy will be fine but Hunter’s not talking. And there’s no way out of charges for Hunter, since the incident happened at the Station. It may also have an impact on Hunter’s sentencing for his arson hearing next week. Kat lets Zac in to see Hunter, hoping his dad will get through to him. Hunter admits he’s not sorry, and he’d do it again if he got the chance. Zac compels him to stop the bravado and control himself. Zac doesn’t want Hunter to go down this destructive path again. Lost, Hunter doesn’t know what more to say, still trying to process the betrayal he feels at discovering Andy murdered his mother.

Unaware of what his mate’s going through, VJ appears to be concentrating on school, but really he’s swatting up on fatherhood – something Zac realises when he discovers VJ’s bag is full of baby books. A chance meeting with Ash at the diner sees a nervous VJ hold his own, promising Ash that he means to support Billie every step of the way. Ash then calls in to check on Billie, who can tell something is up between her brother and Kat. Ash admits he broke a secret Kat confided in him. Billie pushes him to apologise, clueless just how big a secret it is. While Ash considers her advice, Billie finds herself increasingly enjoying VJ’s company and gets talked into helping him with his study. Thrilled, VJ takes her back to the house so they can get started but Billie quickly becomes a distraction, although she’s touched to discover his baby research.

At the campsite, Josh gets angry at Evelyn’s refusal to talk about Andy. Josh pushes Evelyn, demanding she just admit that she thinks Andy deserves this after what he did to Hannah and Oscar. Evelyn gets emotional but Josh won’t let up, yelling at her, until Evelyn screams that Josh is scaring her! She’s freaked out at his level of aggression. It forces them to have a frank discussion – now Evelyn knows Josh killed Charlotte, their relationship will never be the same, no matter how much she claims otherwise.

Later, when Kat is finalising paperwork with Zac and Hunter at the Station, they run into Andy as he returns from the hospital. There’s a tense standoff before Hunter tells Andy truthfully how much it hurt finding out he killed Charlotte, leaving Andy stung. By managing to control his anger and not lash out, Hunter leaves Zac proud. With that out of his system, there’s a weight off Hunter’s shoulders, and he apologises to Zac for the whole thing. Zac says if he keeps moving forward and controlling his emotions that’s all he can do.

With one son’s issues sorted, Zac is annoyed to learn from John that VJ has been deliberately asking for more work. On finding Billie with him when they get home, Zac suggests it’s time she left so VJ can concentrate on his studies. Not wanting to rock the boat, Billie leaves, prompting VJ to fight with Zac, angry his step-dad drove away his girlfriend. VJ stomps off, only worrying Zac further.

Evelyn finally admits that while she can accept Josh accidentally killed Charlotte, she’s struggling with how well he covered it up. The couple are facing some rocky territory but are committed to getting through it. Meanwhile, Ash tries to apologise to Kat, only for Kat to be called out on a job with McCarthy – to find Josh Barrett. They turn up at the campsite to arrest Josh for being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Jake Pirovic.