Home And Away: 25th January > 29th January 2010 - Episode guide

Find out what's coming up for the residents of Summer Bay in this week's visits to Home And Away!

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Monday 25th January 2010
(Episode 4991)

Summer Bay is in turmoil. Hugo has broken up with Martha for no apparent reason and in an unconnected event Angelo has hit Hugo in the face. Surprisingly, Hugo refuses to press charges against him, but Angelo’s boss, Bill Stevens, isn’t happy or forgiving, and suspends Angelo from the force pending an internal investigation. Police work continues around the turmoil and a breakthrough in finding Lou’s killer seems possible when Donna’s missing gardener, Orson, is spotted up the coast. Watson is dispatched to interview him about who planted the murder weapon in Donna’s shed, but Orson proves elusive. When he’s finally found in a car beside the road, he’s unconscious and the reason for it isn’t clear. Donna and Irene, who were banking on Orson to clear their names over Lou’s death, are shattered. Not knowing if foul play led to Orson’s “accident” Donna no longer feels safe and decides to leave town. Meanwhile, the reason for Hugo’s indifference regarding Angelo’s attack becomes clear – it seems Hugo is about to skip town as he makes an airline reservation.

Aden and Nicole had a fun time at her school formal, until late in the evening when Aden started avoiding her and she’s now bemused and upset by his continuing changing moods. Every time Nicole tries to talk to him about it Aden shuts her down. Little does the other know, but both are struggling to deal with romantic feelings for each other which they both find inappropriate, Nicole because she’s with Liam, and Aden because it feels too soon after Belle’s death. When Liam goes out of town for a gig, Nicole tries once again to talk to Aden, but he throws up a brick wall once more. Fed up, Nicole vents to Irene about the situation and on the back of Geoff having earlier told Irene that he felt Aden was struggling with feelings for Nicole, Irene decides to pay Aden a visit and she gives him the final letter Belle left for him.

Tony’s gym business is failing and he’s agreed to sell a majority share in it to John Palmer to get an injection of much needed capital, but Tony’s surprised and concerned by the haste in which John is moving. Rachel, no fan of Palmer’s, wonders if John’s trying to lock Tony into the deal, before he can back out, but Tony knows he won’t have a business at all if John doesn’t buy in. But both Tony and Rachel are taken aback when they find Tradesmen already in the gym preparing quotes for work on upgrading the locker rooms. When Tony confronts John on the issue – they haven’t even signed a contract yet – John is unrepentant. He’s coming in to save the day and he won’t be questioned at every step of the way. Tony is left reeling. It’s clear that Tony isn’t going to find it easy having John as his business partner.


Tuesday 26th January 2010
(Episode 4992)

Nicole and Liam have had their ups and downs lately, and Nicole still isn’t sure how she feels about Liam when he returns from the city having played a gig the previous evening. Liam tries to clear the air between them, and Nicole does start to relax when Poppie interrupts. She ostensibly turns up for another music lesson, but it wasn’t planned and she clearly has more on her mind than music, and Liam quickly dispatches her. Later, when Nicole is at the gym Aden pays her a visit. He has bad news for her, having learnt from Poppie’s sister that Liam cheated on Nicole while she was at the Formal. Nicole’s furious and confronts Liam. He denies nothing, but tries to put some of the blame back on Nicole. They fight, and Nicole storms out. Liam regrets arguing and cheating on Nicole and wants to repair the damage. He even gives Poppie short shrift when she pays him another visit. But Nicole has had enough, and after taking advice from Ruby, she makes a clean break from Liam – it’s over.

Unlike the troubles Liam and Nicole are experiencing, Geoff and Ruby are very much in love. The only blot on their horizon is that they have constantly been thwarted in their efforts to consummate their relationship. Ruby wants them to plan a time and place, but as that has failed them before, Geoff simply wants it to happen when it does. Ruby agrees with him, but then decides “Cupid” may need a bit of a hand and hatches a plan of her own. Home with some flowers for her after doing some job hunting, Geoff finds Ruby in the bedroom. Ruby has gone to a lot of trouble to make the place look very romantic and the two finally make love.

It’s Aden’s first day working at the Sands Hotel. Reg promised him the job if he took his daughter, Catie, to the Formal which Aden did. Aden’s not keen on the uniform he has to wear, the broken shift he has to work, or Reg’s attitude. He’s also uptight about the unopened letter from Belle that’s in his pocket. Aden’s day doesn’t improve when Catie relays to him that her sister, Poppie, slept with Liam on Formal night. Incensed, Aden tells Nicole about Liam’s betrayal and later confronts Liam over it and nearly comes to blows with him about it. Aden finally gets up the courage to read Belle’s letter and its contents shake him. As always, even in death, Belle has managed to put her finger on exactly what Aden’s going through. Somewhat unsettled by the letter, Aden’s day just keeps on going downhill and, after another run-in with Reg, he’s very unfairly sacked. When Poppie gives him attitude too, it’s the last straw for Aden. He takes off in Poppie’s car. Spying Nicole on the roadside some time later, after her break-up with Liam, he tells her to get in the car. Surprisingly she agrees, and they head out of Summer Bay together in a stolen car.


Wednesday 27th January 2010
(Episode 4993)

Having stolen Poppie’s car and taken off up the coast with an unsuspecting Nicole, the two appear to be having fun and getting along well, until a nosey local cop checks on them. Locked up together in a cell, Nicole is furious with Aden. She can’t believe he could be so reckless and irresponsible. When her anger wears off, Nicole treats Aden to the cold shoulder, but as the day wears on, the two begin to talk. Unaware of the romantic feelings each harbours for the other, Nicole says she can’t stand what’s been happening between them lately. If Aden’s going to be so randomly hot and then cold to her, then maybe they should go their separate ways. Aden doesn’t want that, and that confuses Nicole who demands to know why he’s been treating her like he has. Aden’s answer is to give her Belle’s letter. Nicole’s touched by what Belle’s penned, but she doesn’t see any personal significance in what’s there and Aden spells it out to her. He has feelings for her and Belle’s given him permission to be with her. Nicole’s shocked, especially when Aden asks her if she feels the same way about him. Before she can answer the cop brings them lunch which is the last thing they feel like. When they’re alone again Aden gets his answer from Nicole in the form of a long, loving kiss.

Leah bumps into Hazem, the guy that revamped the Diner for her. They both seem very pleased to see each other and later Hazem helps Leah decorate the Surf Club for the Christmas party scheduled for that evening. Appreciative of his help, and enjoying his company, Leah suggests Hazem comes to the party and she’s pleased when he agrees to consider the offer. Miles also offers his help. Recently he’s been spending a lot of time with Leah and VJ as Leah tries to help him get over being dumped by Kirsty. Miles can’t help but comment on the good mood Leah is in and wants to know what’s brought it on. Leah cryptically tells him that she’s come to a realisation that she’s ready for a new relationship. With that in mind, Miles puts two and two together and kisses her, only to realise that she wasn’t hinting that she wanted a relationship with him. Miles, already vulnerable, is left humiliated.

Two bad things happened to Liam yesterday – Nicole broke up with him, and Poppie left him with some ecstasy tablets. Feeling very low, Liam contemplates taking the tablets, only to be interrupted by Martha’s arrival with Bambang in tow. They’ve turned up for a music lesson that Liam’s forgotten about. Liam dutifully starts to show Bambang how to play the ukulele, but Martha accidently discovers the drugs and hurries off with Bambang. It’s Irene who tells Martha that Nicole has ditched Liam and helps Martha realise that Liam doesn’t have too many people to lean on in his hour of need. Knowing that he also has drugs in the house, Martha returns to see Liam and invites him out to the farm. It’s there that she sees a very different side of Liam and both are surprised by how relaxed they are around each other.


Thursday 28th January 2010
(Episode 4994)

Everyone who loves Hugo seems bamboozled by his dumping of Martha, and are confused by his lack of explanation for it. Hugo, harbouring secrets, can only keep repeating that it’s the best thing for Martha, but no-one, especially Martha herself, believes that for a second. His decision seems even stranger when, ostensibly turning up at the farm to pick up the last of his things, Hugo and Martha end up in bed together. Sadly, Martha realises that their love making won’t make any difference to Hugo’s break-up plans and she goes on to the Christmas party alone.

Hugo’s strange behaviour only increases when, late in the evening, he arranges to meet his family outside the surf club. He then tells them he’s there to say goodbye – he’s leaving town right now. Xavier reacts with anger, but the others are left sad and very confused, especially his mum, Gina. Driving out of town Hugo stops as he sees a stationary car with headlight blaring, Hugo is confronted and surprised by an unwelcome visitor.

Miles is in meltdown after misreading the signals Leah was giving him and kissing her. His humiliation is compounded by Colleen who, having witnessed the incident, has spread the erroneous “happy news” to all and sundry. At the Christmas party at the Surf Club Miles begins to drink morbidly – he’s down on everything life has thrown at him recently. Leah tries to soothe his pain and ease his drinking, but her kindness only seems to make Miles worse – especially as he can see how much Hazem and Leah are enjoying each other’s company.

Miles prefers the company of some schoolies who are partying on the beach, but his night seems destined to end in tears. John Palmer doesn’t seem to be having much fun at the party either. Ruby isn’t the only one to notice that John seems to have a problem with Hazem being there. Ruby thinks he’s racist that’s why, but Leah confronts John who assures her that his annoyance is due to business issues, something that John seems to confirm by confronting Hazem about an invoice that Hazem had sent him. Their issues remain unresolved.

Charlie, about to go to the party is surprised when Bryant tells her that Bill Stevens wants her to bring Derrick Quaid in from Remand and re-interview him. Charlie can’t see the point as Derrick wouldn’t talk the last time, but Bryant says Stevens insists. Charlie reluctantly orders Derrick be brought across and decides she’ll interview him in the morning. Later, when she’s enjoying the party, she takes a call that informs her that somehow Derrick has managed to escape on route to the Station. Charlie is alarmed and immediately takes off to help search for him.

Xavier isn’t having much festive fun either. He’s increasingly been hearing barking dogs that no one else can hear. It’s disturbing him and his unease is only made worse when he also starts having flashbacks to the day he nearly drowned. Xavier doesn’t get all his lost memory back, but what he does, disturbs him greatly.


Friday 29th January 2010
(Episode 4995)

The Surf Club Christmas party proves memorable in more ways than one. A drunk Miles has gone missing and while at different times: Leah, Romeo and Alf go looking for him – his disappearance remains a mystery. Colleen, tipsy, is at turns: morbid and full of self loathing for telling people about Miles and Leah kissing, and then festive. She somehow still manages to put some life into the party by leading the singing, albeit badly, of some Christmas carols. Martha, Gina and Xavier are all still reeling from Hugo’s earlier announcement that he’s leaving town and are untouched by the festivities.

Martha, seeking solitude, heads home early. Gina does some soul searching, while Xavier is troubled by barking dogs and some unwanted flashes of memory from the day he nearly drowned. As Xavier’s memory slowly starts to come back he becomes increasing concerned that Hugo is in danger. This is amplified when he learns that Derrick has escaped from police custody. When Xavier finally recalls that the argument Derrick and Hugo were having concerned a container on the wharf, Xavier decides he has to immediately go to the closest container terminal – Port Heron up the coast. A very reluctant Alf is co-opted into driving Xavier and Romeo up there.

Hugo, having said his sad goodbyes at the Christmas party drives off, but doesn’t get far before he’s confronted by Suzy. She tells Hugo that she’s here to make sure he returns to Indonesia with her the following day. Hugo says that’s his plan, but Suzy is sceptical and tells him that she’s taken out insurance. If Hugo tries to double cross her – then it’s Martha who will pay the price. She drives off leaving Hugo by the roadside. Hugo desperately tries to call Martha, but she’s turned off her phone and Hugo, petrified, takes off to make sure Martha is warned and safe. Suzy however beats Hugo home and kidnaps Martha. Suzy clearly means business and Martha’s life is on the line.

Charlie is furious when Derrick somehow escapes from custody, but she’s somewhat mollified when the Intelligence services say they think they have cracked the code on the paper found in Bambang’s toy. Firstly they reveal that a “container 17” is mentioned and due to the station being short staffed, Charlie takes off to Port Heron to investigate. Once there, Charlie finds the container, but is initially thwarted from investigating it by the arrival of someone else at the site.

When Avary calls with the news that State Intelligence rang with a phone number that they have deciphered, Charlie realises she is close to solving the people smuggling case and unmasking the mastermind behind it. Charlie eventually manages to open the container and is shocked by her discovery of what’s inside. There are a number of emaciated refugees, but her shock at seeing them is nothing compared to the surprise she gets when the mastermind behind the scheme turns up and his identity is revealed. Summer Bay may never be the same again.