Next week on Home and Away in the UK, Roo says goodbye to Summer Bay as she joins Ryder on his cruise ship, while Bronte hatches a plan to sue the diner.
As Irene (Lynne McGranger) and Leah (Ada Nicodemou) face potential ruin following the recent health crisis at the Pier Diner, conwoman Bronte (Stephanie Caccamo) spies an opportunity.
Irene has taken Bronte, who she believes to be suffering from a terminal autoimmune disease, into her home after meeting her at a hospital in the city, but it soon became clear to the viewers that it was all a big scam.
Bronte later slipped into conversation that there was a clinical trial taking place in Canada that could give her a chance at survival, though it would cost $100,000. Irene took the bait, and soon the bay began fundraising.
Xander (Luke Van Os) suggested they set up a crowdfunding page and the donations have been rolling in, with Irene donating $1000 herself and Salt adding a further $2k to the pot.
Meanwhile, the diner was forced to close after it became apparent that it was the source of contamination that had made several residents ill, including John (Shane Withington) and Marilyn (Emily Symons).
Subsequent investigations from the health authority revealed that benzine, present in the insulation surrounding a leaking pipe, had seeped into the water supply, leaving a hefty cleanup job for Leah and Irene. The entire space would need a deep clean, having been exposed to contaminated water, and all taps and seals would need to be replaced.
Next week, having been absent from the Beach House during her isolation at the hospital, Dana (Ally Harris) spends a morning getting to know new housemate Bronte.
Naturally, as a healthcare professional, Dana is keen to hear all about Bronte’s condition and the medical trial, but Bronte is a little vague as she explains she isn’t up on the medical jargon.
When they then immediately run into Dr Bree (Juliet Godwin), Bronte must be beginning to regret coming to Summer Bay.
She may have got ex-paramedic Xander fooled, but living with a nurse and now in close proximity to the head of emergency, the days of her scheming must surely be numbered?
Avoiding further conversation with Bree by saying she’s suddenly feeling a little unwell, Bronte heads to the diner with Dana.
When they arrive, Irene is on the phone to a solicitor representing Joseph (Paul Winchester), the customer who was taken ill last week and rushed to the hospital after being found semi-conscious outside the diner. He informs a devastated Irene that Joseph is suing the diner, seeking $50,000 in compensation.
Irene relays the news to Dana and Bronte, as she tells them that she hopes the diner’s insurance will cover it. As Dana suggests that Irene get on the phone to her own solicitor, the dollar signs appear in Bronte’s eyes.
Bronte makes a call to her accomplice explaining that while she was on the verge of bailing, she’s just had an idea…
Later that evening, Bronte comes downstairs and claims that after feeling worse that afternoon, she’s seen her specialist who has run some more tests. Benzine has been found in her system, and it has unfortunately exacerbated her illness.
Irene’s devastated that the diner issue has also affected Bronte, though Dana can’t help but be a little confused as she asks for clarification on a few things.
When Dana later asks Bree if benzine contamination could worsen an autoimmune disease, Bree confirms that whilst Bronte would obviously display symptoms from the poisoning, it wouldn’t speed up her illness.
Dana brings Bree back to the Beach House who offers to go through Bronte’s results with her, but Bronte again puts them off, much to Dana’s suspicion.
Dana later clocks a not-too-subtle comment to Irene from Bronte about having insurance to rely on, and sure enough, the next morning Irene has had a brainwave. She wants Bronte to sue the diner too!
Bronte acts surprised, telling Irene there’s no way she could do that, but Irene sees it as the perfect solution. As long as they kept quiet, the insurance company would cover the cost, and Bronte would be more than halfway to reaching her fundraising goal.
The alarm bells are ringing loud and clear for Dana at this point, but her attempts to talk Irene out of it are rebuked.
She voices her suspicions that Bronte is simply taking advantage of her, but Irene is unable to see the manipulation that has occurred, as she reminds Dana that it was her own idea and to back off.
Dana eventually decides to confront Bronte directly, telling her that she knows she’s faking it, but Bronte quickly retreats to the bathroom to be sick. Irene is horrified as she comes home to find Dana shouting through the bathroom door for Bronte to give up the act.
Irene demands an explanation, but refuses to listen to Dana’s theory as she tells her to stay the hell out of it. When Xander also agrees with Irene, it seems Dana is on her own.
Meanwhile, Leah is reeling from the news that a second person is suing the diner, and whilst she prays that the insurance will cover the lawsuits, she’s all too aware that they’ll have to pay an excess and their premiums will go up as a result.
So Leah is stunned when Dana later informs her that Bronte suing the diner was, in fact, Irene’s idea…
How will Leah react to the news that her best friend has potentially thrown their business under the bus?!
Elsewhere in Summer Bay, Roo (Georgie Parker) receives a very tempting offer after hearing from nephew Ryder (Lukas Radovich).
Former Salt barman Ryder left the bay just over two years ago, after the glamour of the illicit poker nights being held at the restaurant saw him embark on a whole new career path.
Wishing to become a (legit) casino croupier, Ryder got in touch with mum Quinn (Lara Cox), who works as a singer on international cruise ships.
She was soon able to forward him a job advert for a mixologist on a massive new liner, the Pearl of the Sea, which would open up the opportunity to move around the ship and train up as a croupier—with the added bonus that he’d get to see the world at the same time.
When Ryder’s application was successful, the only catch with the dream opportunity was the fact that he would have to leave Summer Bay the very next day.
From all accounts since, Ryder has excelled in his new career path, and next week when he contacts Roo, he explains that he’s been given a promotion.
One of the perks of the new position is that he will be able to bring someone with him on the next cruise, and he invites Roo to join him!
Having recently begun the application process to become a foster carer, Roo isn’t sure the time is right to be sailing off around the world, but John (Shane Withington) quite rightly points out that the application could still take several months.
It seems Ryder is determined that his aunt should take a break however, and so recruits Marilyn in an attempt to convince her to say yes.
Despite the peer pressure, Roo is still wavering; it’s very short notice and Alf (Ray Meagher) is also away visiting Martha (Belinda Giblin) at the moment. Plus she’d be literally gone for months. However, Marilyn is sure that Alf would support her if she were to take the plunge.
“It’s a cruise around the world, Roo,” Marilyn states. “I mean, how terrible could it be?!”
“Are you being sarcastic?” Roo dryly replies.
Roo isn’t sure that she has her sea legs any more, despite Marilyn pointing out that she grew up on the Blaxland (ahem… we won’t mention the continuity error there in that Alf didn’t purchase the boat until 2001…).
However, having slept on it, the next morning Roo heads to the coffee cart and orders a double shot—revealing to Marilyn, Leah and John that she needs to pack extra quick as she has a ship to catch!
Roo tells them that Alf was all for it, and the foster agency are also aware. Though she does point out that it means leaving the surf club in John’s capable hands…
With that, the group bid Roo a quick Bon Voyage as she heads off on her latest adventure.
Roo’s departure will mark the beginning of a lengthy on-screen break for the character.
After wrapping up the filming of this week’s episodes at the end of January, Georgie Parker went straight into rehearsals for a new David Williamson play The Great Divide at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, which ran from March to April (we saw it, and can confirm she was great!).
Then, in May, Georgie underwent her second hip replacement in the space of six years, a result of living with scoliosis (a curvature of the spine) since she was 13 years old.
“I’m 3 weeks post op,” Georgie explained in an Instagram post at the beginning of last month. “Recovery is going well and I’ve had the most brilliant support from my family, my work place and my incredible friends. Practicing patience now while I heal…… so I can get back to work baby.”
We believe that Georgie has now returned to the show, in episodes that will likely air in the UK around January/February.
