(Monday 10th – Friday 14th February 2020)
Ryder finally catches up with Jade, having taken so long to get ready for his big moment with her that he missed it! He makes awkward small talk with her but only succeeds in irritating her. Then she mentions Roo and breaks things off with him, prompting him to lay into his aunt. He foolishly ignores Roo’s warning that Jade is not a good person and then ends up in bed with Jade. This is not going to end well.
Roo worries about Ryder not coming home that night. However, he hasn’t gone far. He’s spent the night in Jade’s caravan. He is so proud of himself for his success that he behaves like a complete prat, far too eager to show off to people who don’t actually care about his sex life. In fact, the only person who does care in Roo, who gives him a serve for staying out all night – in front of Jade. Ryder is quick to fire back at her. After getting a talking to from Alf, Ryder makes amends with Roo. He refers to Jade as his girlfriend. Wow, he’s jumping the gun! He again refuses to let his family get too close to Jade.
Roo seeks Maggie’s friendship as she struggles to cope with Ryder flying the nest. They go through students’ grades and are disappointed by Bella’s results. Maggie visits Bella, who has just moved back in with Colby to discuss her options. She point blank refuses to repeat Year Eleven. Maggie agrees to offer all the support she can to get Bella through Year Twelve.
After a family dinner, Jasmine tackles Robbo on the tension between him and his Dad and he reveals the offer of moving to the farm. Jasmine is surprisingly open to the idea as the couple attempt to plan their future, including the possibility of Grace having to live without Tori. They decide to move to the farm with Ian and Wendy in four weeks’ time. Jasmine suggests that Robbo find a manager for the gym rather than sell it.
Justin returns from the city with the news that Tori needs to be transferred to a specialist unit. While Mason is supportive of the idea, Justin feels like everyone is giving up on her as the hospital have made it clear that there’s nothing more that they can do. Things get worse when Ian and Wendy put their foot in it with Justin and Leah about the move. Robbo then breaks the news, which only compounds Justin’s belief that people are giving up on Tori. John spots Justin taking off in his car in a state of utter fury and grief.
Leah is furious with Robbo for his ill-timed announcement, blaming him for Justin’s disappearance. Alex and Willow offer Mason their support over Tori. At least someone acknowledges that it’s not just Justin suffering! He and Leah challenge Robbo over giving up on Tori and never taking Grace to see her. He doesn’t think it would do Tori any good or be good for Grace, although Alex argues that there’s evidence that Tori and Grace could still bond, despite Tori’s coma. He takes the baby to the hospital where he finds Justin. He orders Justin to contact Leah before handing Grace over to bond her with Tori. He comes home and informs Leah and Mason that he will not send Tori to the brain injury unit, prompting a huge argument between him and his brother.
Ziggy returns from her trial at the race track to a new surfboard from her Dad and a happy reunion with Dean, who forces himself to be supportive about the job.
Working out on the beach, Alex and Willow struggle with their ban on PDAs. Alex supports panicked Willow when Robbo wants a serious talk about the gym. Willow opens up to Alex about her past and how good Robbo has been to her. Alex encourages her to face the situation head on. Willow steals a kiss before she leaves. In public! She’s ecstatic when Robbo promotes her to full time manager!
Thrilled, Willow arranges celebratory drinks with Dean, Colby, Alex and Ziggy. Alex is so excited for her girlfriend that she brings her a present and puts no pressure on her to come out to her friends. Willow tactlessly books a table but doesn’t invite Mac. Alex invites Mason, admitting that she’s nervous about the evening but he is too broken over Tori and Justin. Alex suggests moving Tori to the local hospital and weaning her off the ventilator. Even if it doesn’t work, they would have more support here and more control over her care. Justin apologises to Mason who suggests Alex’s idea to him about bringing Tori to Northern Districts and bringing her off the ventilator, which Justin eagerly agrees to.
Colby brings Bella along to the drinks night. She teases Willow and Alex about their secret relationship. Behind the bar, Mac proceeds to get drunk as she struggles to watch Colby ignore her and have fun with his friends. She and Bella snipe at each other. While Ziggy sincerely thanks Alex for all she has done for Ben, Willow is eager for Dean’s opinion of Alex. He can’t work out why she even invited her. Alex raises a toast to Willow. Colby is shocked to discover that Robbo and Jasmine are leaving Summer Bay. Dean is supportive when Ziggy hears that she didn’t get the track job but Mac provokes a row when she drunkenly blurts out that Dean never wanted her to get it in the first place. The party breaks up when Dean and Ziggy go home and argue about the fact that neither of them has been honest about their feelings about the job. They quickly make up though and Ziggy pretends to be happy to stay in the Bay.
Colby tells Mac off for her behaviour, prompting Willow and Alex to make a quick escape. Colby and Bella exit just as Willow and Alex are kissing.
My favourite line of the week is from Bella: “Oh yeah. That’s a thing.”
While Willow drags Colby back into the Surf Club to explain that she and Alex are in a relationship, Alex admits to Bella that she is surprised she hadn’t already blabbed. Colby is over the moon that Willow has found happiness. He welcomes Alex to the family. When Willow is still worried about Dean, she has to admit to her past romantic relationship with him to Alex, who isn’t bothered – everyone has a past. Alex is keen for Colby’s approval. She definitely has it. And unlike Mac and previously, Ziggy, she has Bella’s approval too.
The next day, worried Willow enlists John’s help in opening Salt, only to find that lonely Mac drank herself silly and slept there the night before. She lies and claims to have worked late on the books and stayed over but Willow and Alex don’t buy it. Dean is furious with Mac for dropping him in with Ziggy. Mac asks Dean to keep Colby away from Salt so that she can find a way to move on. Dean reluctantly agrees to pass the message on, despite not wanting to get stuck in the middle of their relationship and despite his opinion that they should try and work through things. Mac apologises to Ziggy and assures her that Dean loves her. Colby is annoyed at being told to stay away from Salt. Ziggy is offered the job after all and she accepts without a second’s thought.
Bella claims to be feeling unwell in a bid to stop Colby from going out. He calls Alex (and Willow) round to check on her.
(Channel 5, 1:15pm & 6pm (sneak peek, weekdays on 5STAR at 6:30pm)
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