When Irene gives Kieran a place to stay on next week’s episode of Home and Away in the UK, Jasmine is conflicted. Is it possible for the two to share a home?
Since his arrival in Summer Bay last year, Kieran (Rick Donald) has had it tough. When Martha (Belinda Giblin) and Alf (Ray Meagher) reconnected after more than 30 years apart, Alf found it difficult to believe that his new wife had a kid he had never known about.
But that was nothing compared to what was about to happen. Kieran has battled alcoholism for years and struggles to manage his emotions, especially when he is told no.
When Alf learned that Kieran had previously been aggressive with Martha, he decided he didn’t want anything to do with him.
After a violent fight with Alf in the Surf Club, Kieran left town. He reappeared a few weeks later, hiding in Martha’s trailer before kidnapping her and taking her to an ATM, where he demanded she withdraw money for him to spend on alcohol.
Now he’s returned, almost 100 days sober and anxious to make things right with his family. While Roo (Georgie Parker) can see that he’s come a long way toward sobriety and a new life, Alf only sees the old Kieran and refuses to believe that he’s changed. More importantly, he won’t let him approach Martha.
He decided to give Kieran an opportunity to prove himself last week, and agreed to let him come to the home and present his case.
Kieran’s anxieties finally got the best of him. He went to Salt and purchased a bottle of Scotch, then sat down on a bench to talk to his old buddy about his worry over the appointment with Mr Stewart.
Kieran never cracked open the Scotch, despite the strong desire. Before it was too late, Ryder (Lukas Radovich) discovered him on a bench, and Roo ultimately calmed him down enough for the two of them to make their way to Summer Bay House.
Unfortunately, it appears that honesty isn’t the greatest strategy when it comes to explaining why they’re late.
Alf is first pleased by Kieran’s claim to have been clean for over 100 days, but when he reveals that he was tempted earlier in the day and that Ryder discovered him clutching a bottle, things spiral out of control faster than he or Roo could have expected.
Alf is furious with Kieran for putting Ryder in that predicament, and he orders him out of his house immediately.
Roo jumps in to defend her half-brother, informing her father that if he kicks Kieran out, he’ll have to toss her out as well!
It’s no issue. Soon later, Roo assists Kieran in settling into his hotel room before departing for her own. Alf called her out on her bluff and ejected his own daughter! They’re in for a bigger fight than they anticipated.
When Roo comes the next morning to check on Kieran, he has packed his belongings and is ready to leave town. He thanks Roo for her assistance, but he can’t see a way over Alf’s misgivings – he’ll have to accept that he’s lost and move in.
Roo, on the other hand, isn’t easily defeated. She recommends they go out to breakfast to talk things over. If he insists on leaving after that, she will personally drive him to the bus stop.
That offers Irene (Lynne McGranger) the chance to make an unexpected suggestion. While she has doubts about Kieran, she has firsthand experience with the challenges of alcoholism and wants to assist.
She offers Kieran (Sam Frost) the opportunity to live with her and Jasmine.
There are just three rules: no yelling, no misbehavior, and no alcohol consumption.
Kieran, unsurprisingly, jumps at the opportunity and becomes the Beach House’s newest inhabitant.
Jasmine seems to like the idea at first, and she’s even there when Irene offers it to Roo and Kieran. Kieran apologizes for his previous behavior, which included bailing on the gym management position and getting in her face about it, but Jasmine insists on putting the past behind her.
However, once he’s moved his belongings in, it’s apparent that’s not the case.
Kieran is determined not to mess things up and is more calm than ever, but Jasmine is still doing all she can to avoid being in the same house as him.
Despite the fact that she hasn’t been out of the hospital long, she goes for a run and declines the offer of a welcome meal that evening.
She later admits to Irene that she thought she’d be OK with Kieran moving in, but she’d forgotten how strange she is.
While Irene understands where Jasmine is coming from, she tells her that they’ve both been in similar situations when they needed someone to be there for them. He’s giving it his best, and it’s worth giving him a chance.
Jasmine comes down for a glass of water later that night and finds Kieran out on the balcony.
She sits down and speaks with him, giving him the chance Irene mentioned. He’s certain that he doesn’t want to make her feel strange in her own house, and he apologises profusely for their previous strangeness — he appears really repentant.
As they converse, Jasmine admits that it will take some getting used to, and Kieran assures her that he would not breach her personal space. He also laughs about how fantastic of a housemate he can be, saying that he will always – or nearly always – leave the toilet seat down.
Jasmine coaxes him into talking about his prior problems by asking him how someone who likes him ended himself in his situation. She appears to be prepared to give him a chance by telling him she has all night.
With Irene, Roo, and Jasmine on his side, Kieran appears to have a chance to sort out his life.
However, there is one major stumbling block left: Alf!
Mr Stewart can’t seem to keep his feelings towards Kieran to himself, despite the fact that he no longer lives with him. He slams Irene for taking him in at the Diner, berating her judgement while Kieran stands by in stunned silence.
He returns to the Beach home, enraged and prepared to flee town once more.
Will Alf push Kieran out of town, or will the support of his new housemates inspire him to keep striving for a permanent reconciliation with his mother?
