Emily Weir, who plays Mackenzie Booth on Home and Away, has spoken up about her character’s significant new storyline, in which Mac’s financial desperation pushes her to contemplate a very risky plan.
Mackenzie’s restaurant, Salt, has been drowning in debt for months, which has lately been exacerbated by her insurance company’s refusal to pay any claims related to the gas attack. It was alleged by the corporation that it was not covered under the agreed-upon policy.
With Mac in considerable debt after footing the expenses alone, she’s realized that her career is now on the line, and Emily told TV Week that the issue is having a significant impact on her character.
“It absolutely makes her feel like she is nearing to hitting rock bottom again,” she said. “The insurance money was going to cover damages and loss after the gas attack. Without it she is behind on all payments and realizes she is in so much more debt than she even realized.”
Last week, Mac confided in her brother Dean Thompson (Patrick O’Connor) about her problems, and Dean pledged to help, eventually calling their estranged father, Rick Booth.
Unfortunately, Rick’s only answer has been to call Mac and give her a lecture, as well as an offer to buy Salt at a significantly discounted price – to which Mac simply replied, “shove it.”
“Mackenzie has a fractured relationship with her dad,” Emily explained. “He is completely unsupportive, has a history of lying and cheating, and is overall apathetic towards his children.”
Mackenzie is forced to look for other ways to save money after reaching a stalemate with Rick. She ends up having to break the dreadful news to Felicity Newman (Jacqui Purvis) that she had to let her go. Felicity is stunned and insistent that she has done nothing wrong, so she refuses to accept her dismissal.
In an effort to help, Ryder Jackson (Lukas Radovich), who recently looked over the Salt records and forecasted that the company would have to close down shortly, explains to Felicity the financial strain Mackenzie is under.
Felicity begins to smile, much to his astonishment, as she begins to construct an idea in her head.
Felicity approaches Mac the next day with an audacious suggestion: she organizes an underground poker night. She then suggests that she might be able to recoup all of the money she requires in one night.
“Initially it’s definitely not in Mackenzie’s mind, she thinks Felicity is joking,” Emily admitted of the bold idea. “But as the idea develops and the stress of the huge debt weighing on Mackenzie she sees it as an idea that might be a doable solution…”
Will Mackenzie, on the other hand, risk everything on an illicit poker night?
Barry Conrad, who portrayed Kane Jones on Neighbours, recently announced that he has joined Home and Away in a new role related to the gambling storyline, as well as sharing a dramatic new clip that indicates a potential danger for Mac and Tane Parata (Ethan Browne).
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