Episode 6571

Extended Summary

Worried that Ash and Phoebe have been talking about her attack, Billie confronts Ash. He promises her, he didn’t tell Phoebe and that she already knew. Ash suspects that Billie might know who raped her, and that’s why she doesn’t want them talking. Covering, she tells him she just wants the horrible ordeal to be buried and forgotten, and for them to stop talking about it behind her back. Furious, Billie warns Phoebe not to tell Ash. Phoebe is confused, having assumed that Billie would have told him, but Billie explains her fear that Ash would want to seek revenge on Mick and end up in prison.

An escorted vehicle takes Justin and Kat to the courthouse. Justin is tense because he knows his family’s freedom rides on his testimony. Sensing his anxiety, his lawyer warns him not to let the defence throw him and get under his skin, because they will attempt to discredit him and everything he says. Nodding in understanding, but still showing signs of stress, Justin enters the court room. As Justin gives his testimony the defence attempts to discredit his evidence and testimony. He insists he’s telling the truth, but the defence argues that Justin is only testifying in order to avoid prosecution himself. Justin’s gaze meets Renae’s cold eyes; this isn’t going to be easy.

Back in Summer Bay, Heath and Bianca inform an excited Irene about their plan to stay. Excited Bianca heads off to try to secure a job, whilst Heath and Ash grab a beer at the caravan park. Heath tells him that the police didn’t find Gunno’s body, but that of a backpacker. Ash sees this as great news and tells him to look on the positive side – he’s dodging a murder charge. Heath isn’t finding the thought too comforting, more concerned about where Gunno’s body could be.

Billie is visited by Phoebe the next morning. Phoebe apologises, but still questions why Billie won’t tell Ash. She tells Billie she suspects that there’s another reason she doesn’t want them talking – that maybe the baby is Mick’s, not VJ’s. Billie’s reaction answers her question, but Billie furiously denies it. Drawn by the raised voices, VJ asks what’s wrong. Billie says she just wants to move on from her assault but everyone keeps bringing it back up. Thrown, VJ asks how Phoebe found out, but Billie covers and tells him that Ash probably told her. Seeing his partner so distressed VJ goes to see Ash in a rage, but he insists that he didn’t tell Phoebe, and that Billie told her ages ago. Ash picks up on VJ’s confusion at the conflicting reports and tells him the reason Billie doesn’t want them talking is because Phoebe knows who attacked Billie. Unable to believe that she would lie to them about that, VJ tells Ash to back down, but Ash isn’t so sure his sister’s telling the truth.

Heath heads out for a surf and is met by an old gaol mate Mossy. Mossy invites him to go surfing up the coast. Heath is initially hesitant, needing to find a job, but after some gentle ribbing from Mossy, he decides to blow off his responsibilities and go surfing with him. As they later enjoy a beer at the surf club Bianca finds them. She’s unimpressed at Heath’s attitude, irritated that he’d rather go surfing with an ex-con than try and find a job to look after his family. Chastised, Heath nurses his beer alone, unaware that Mossy is being paid to keep an eye on him and his movements.

Meanwhile Billie is mad at VJ for speaking with her brother. All of her secrets are unravelling and she fears that they’ll soon be revealed. VJ points out that not everything she’s saying is adding up. Fed up with this questioning Billie leaves to find Phoebe in order to sort everything out. Phoebe is leaving another message for Kat, wanting to check in with the trial when Billie arrives. She tells her she was right, that Mick is the father of her baby. Billie asks her to keep it quiet, that she wants a normal family and life for her child. Phoebe asks if Irene has the right to know considering she is the baby’s true grandmother but Billie insists she doesn’t and she isn’t. Seeing that Phoebe is conflicted about keeping up the pretence, Billie makes an appeal to Phoebe for the sake of her brother and daughter. Whilst Phoebe has decided to let it go, Ash hasn’t and is still hounding Phoebe about what she knows. Phoebe asks him to drop it, and seeing that she means it, he asks her how Justin and the trial are going. She tells him she’s been trying to stay out of it, but is failing miserably. Confused Ash asks why she isn’t there, but Phoebe tells him it’s not her place as her and Justin aren’t together.

Back at the courthouse Justin is nervously awaiting the verdict. Kat is confident they’ll get a guilty verdict, but too much is at stake for Justin to be cavalier about it. The lawyer comes to collect them. In the court room, the judge reveals that after having weighed up the testimony and substantial evidence against the accused, he has found them guilty of all charges. Justin is hugely relieved, but his joy is short lived as a furious Ranae tells him this isn’t over, and that he is a dead man.