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.