The Stalker is back....

[bandage]

Just got 2 separate texts to say Home and Away is an absolute belter today. I didn’t seek any more information as I didn’t want to spoil it for myself. Anyway, passing this on so people can plan their evenings around the show. As always says you.

lyonsee, I agree Belle is very pretty but she is young. Last year on email in work I commented on how I thought Matilda was very good looking for her age and I recall somebody from this forum forwarding said email to a load of female colleagues making me out to be a complete pervert.

[bandage]

The excitement as I’m about to leave work as I contemplate who was it that shot Josh West last night. It’s too easy to jump to the conclusion that it’s the stalker each time something untoward happens but who knows he could have had dealings with her in the past? Is he dead or seriously injured? Could it have been one of the regulars? They showed Amanda with a gun last night but the writers never make it that straightforward so I’m ruling her out. What about Marsha? She may have stolen Jack’s gun? What about Jack himself? Or Morag? Or any one of the Hunters or even Tasha? I absolutely love a good who dunnit – hopefully they’ll keep us on our toes for a few weeks.

[therock67]

Thought the same on Amanda - plus didn't Josh get her gun? My first thought was that Kit would be deranged enough to do it but I can't remember where she is these days. Stalker has a grudge against the Bay but a serial killer worth their salt (which she is) would surely know that Josh could be an ally not an enemy. Tasha's a good shout too as is Martha. Christ it could be anyone. I'm missing it "live" tonight but I have it programmed to record.

[lyonsee]

Was actually very disappointed with the script-writing and the build-up to Josh's murder. Thought it was very tackily done - basically everybody in the whole episode kept shouting about how they wanted Josh dead.

I'm thinking that the perp is probably not the same individual as (s)he that sent the death threat but that they may be able to link somebody (Robbie?) to the death threat and thus wrongly imprison that individual. I concur with Jack that it's probably not any of the current suspects.

Another theory is that given Amanda's limited acting ability I wouldn't be too surprised if they kicked her out of the show and this would be one such way to bump her off.

They do seem to be strongly pointing a finger towards Martha but they're being so obvious about it that I doubt it's her, although arguably she has the most reason, given that as well as the family matters, she knows that Josh is indirectly behind the buggery of Tasha.

Don't think there's any reason for Mama Rose to want Josh dead but she popped into my head just there. They're probably just going to leave the Believers storyline behind now, as they seem to have done for Graeme's murder. Could Robbie go down for a double homicide leaving Tasha to bring up baby Jonah on her own?

[steamboatsam]

i think it just adds to the suspense the way pretty much anyone could have done it although the way all of them happened to be on their own at the time of the crime is a bit much.

Constable Holden surely has a conflict of interests sitting in on the questioning of his girlfriend??

Josh definitely knew his murderer the way he said "what are you doing here?" when they walked into his office, but we may not know the person - could be an old business acquaintance, although i doubt it. His security wasn't great considering anyone could just barge into his mayor's office, especially in light of the death threats.

wonder where Josh's murder leaves Mr Stewart's appeal? the truth may never come out. i hope they check in on him soon, dying to see how he's doing

[corleone]

Where did this girly tread come from?! I'm going back to the topic list, hopefully the next one isn't "does my ass look big in this?" or "Oh my gawd, where did you get those shoes?" Gotta go

[steamboatsam]

corleone said:

Where did this girly tread come from?! I'm going back to the topic list, hopefully the next one isn't "does my ass look big in this?" or "Oh my gawd, where did you get those shoes?" Gotta go

smite for Corleone, this is one of the best threads on the forum

anybody know any decent barmen looking for a job as i believe a vacancy is opening up in our local

[therock67]

I don't think it was Martha purely from Mayor West's reaction. I'd imagine him saying something along the lines of "Surprise, surprise bit late for a visit isn't it?" if it was Martha because she's the most obvious person to call to the office at that hour. I would say it's someone who's appearance was a little more surprising: i.e. someone not expected to act as rashly like Morag or Irene or Principal Hyde though I don't think any of them did it.

Poor show from Detective Baker too. He knew Mayor West had received death threats but didn't act decisively - presumably because of personal feelings.

Unhappy with Constable Holden's involvement in the interview process too - there is a lack of leadership and authority in Summer Bay police force.

[steamboatsam]

Ken needs to stamp his authority on the investigation

[bandage]

I don't think it's any of the regulars to be honest. I was wondering if Amanda would be playing the bad role forever but I think her putting a stop to Project 56 (not through killing Josh but by planting the letter on Morag's car that put a halt to the project) will eventually see the Bay accepting her and she’ll go through a personality change of Irene proportions. Can’t believe Jack sat in on the interview of Martha (does the phrase conflict of interests not ring a bell to the scriptwriters?). Not sure who else it could be (I wouldn’t mind it being Robbie as I don’t think he adds much to the show really) but still think we’ll see some other person (who we may or may not know from before) emerge as the killer. Hope it has an implication for Mr Stewart – can’t wait to have him back.

[bandage]

Raging I missed this tonight. Anyone kind enough to post a quick summary?

[lyonsee]

bandage said:

Raging I missed this tonight. Anyone kind enough to post a quick summary?

Not entirely sure you deserve it seeing as I warned you it was a belter four and a half hours in advance but here goes.

- Starts off with Ric on the beach coming out of the surf. Belle's there and starts chatting away to him. Ric's all snappy with her and Belle's like "what did the little princess do this time?". Ric explains how he was questioned about Josh's murder and that Cassie had inquired about his whereabouts at the time. Belle asks him if he did it. Ric looks guilty and Belle goes something along the lines of "Jesus, Ric what did you do?". Ric says something along the lines of "I hate him and all he's done to my family".

- Meanwhile at the station they have a match for the half a finger print they found smeared in Josh's blood on the office door. It's Amanda's print. She's taken in for questioning but they don't have enough to charge her and let her go. she tells them she won't let them search her flat and she's told they'll get a warrant. Jack and another cop follow her back to her apartment.

- Ric arrives home and him and Cassie have another row. Ric says he's off to the gym but Cassie notices his runners are in the porch and follows him. He meets Belle on the beach and gives her a bag. The dialogue between the pair suggests that it's evidence relating to Josh's murder and that Belle is going to dispose of it on her boyfriend-to-be's behalf. Later, Cassie confronts Ric about what was in the bag and they break up as Ric issues the ultimatum that either she look into his eyes and says she trusts him or else it's over. She can't do it and he says that's that.

- Peter has now arrived at Amanda's apartment to meet up with Jack and the bird cop. Strings have been pulled and he has the warrant. They knock on the door but get no answer. They bust in and see the fire damage to the kitchen (which Amanda hadn't reported) and her stuff all packed in boxes. It cuts to Amanda in her car out the front of the apartment, looking frazzled. She's on the phone telling the person that she needs the money transferred immediately. Shes roars off.

- The cops search around her apartment and find a black bag with clothes in it and a shoe with blood on it. They also find a magazine with letters cut out of it. Very incriminating indeed.

- Some time passes and Dan gets a call from home that Amanda has snatched Ryan from Dan's folks' house. Dan and Peter converse and Dan tells him about all the threats and intimidation from Josh. Peter puts the cops onto it in the surrounding areas. A call comes through that Amanda has chartered a flight from some airfield or other. Amanda gets to the airfield and ushers Ryan quickly from the car. Cops arrive and arrest Amanda in front of her son.

- Back to the station and Peter's reading Amanda the riot act. She comes clean and says that she was there that night to confront Josh but he was dead when she got there. There's a flashback style scene where she goes over to check his motionless body and gets blood on her finger and shoe. She touches the door on leaving his office. Peter confronts her about the magazine and she expresses shock which seems genuine. Peter states "Amanda Walters I'm charging you with the murder of Josh West..." Amanda shouts "I didn't do it, I didn't kill him."

[Fade to "you know we belong together..."]

It seems likely that what Ric gave Belle was the magazine and she plants it in Amanda's stuff (not sure if my chronology of events suggests it, but there was sufficient timelag between Ric giving Belle the bag and the cops finding the magazine in Amanda's for Belle to have planted it [as far as I recall anyway]).

I believe that neither Amanda nor Ric is the killer.

An absolute dinger of an episode which restored my faith given the weak lead-up to the homicide.

[therock67]

I too missed this episode last night - I will miss it tonight also but I've made arrangements to have it recorded. I'm not sure I understand the significance of the magazine - probably because I missed Wednesday's episode too? I'd appreciate some enlightenment.

[lyonsee]

The magazine had the letters Y,O,U A,R,E D,E,A,D cut out of it.

[therock67]

John Aldridge's run-up for his penalty kick in Valletta against Malta; Stephen Roche's sudden acceleration in the 1987 World Road Racing Championships in Villach in Austria; Brian O'Driscoll's explosive burst of speed from a standing start in the first Test for the Lions against Australia.

All the above moments of sporting magic resulted from a dramatic, unexpected change of pace which caught everyone unawares. A tactic brilliantly employed by Home and Away's scriptwriters last night. The programme was meandering along as a "relationship episode" - a genre that doesn't particularly excite me but it is integral to the development of the series. Then all of a sudden a bombshell at the end from Tasha. Superb writing. Hats off to:

Katrina Foster
Rhett Walton
Mardi McConnochie
Fiona Kelly
Boaz Stark
Sarah Turner
Meg Mappin
Chris Phillips
Ray Kolle
Edwina Searle
Ray Harding
Anthony Morris
Judith Colquhoun
Coral Droun
Phil Sanders
John Hanlon
Andy Ryan
Greg Millin
Fiona Bozic
Felicity Packard
Serge Lazareff
Ron Elliot
Sarah Rossetti
Leon Saunders

and of course Cameron Welsh.

[bandage]

I literally jumped out of my seat such was my excitement at the end. Then a prolonged standing ovation ensued. It does not get any better than that.

[bandage]

Got a few texts to say today’s Home and Away is as good if not better than last night’s. Reminder that it’s been an 8.30pm kick off so far this week due to the Galway Races. Cork City are playing tonight too so it better be repeated this evening. Otherwise I’ll be leading a storming of the RTE building this weekend.

[gilly]

It's back on at 6.30 this evening as its an early meeting today.

[bandage]

gilly said:

It's back on at 6.30 this evening as its an early meeting today.

Excellent. And to think I was meant to be working late for month end.

[therock67]

Thanks for that gilly. Quick change of plans there to make sure I catch it "live." I've been watching it past midnight the last 2 nights and it hasn't been the same. Can't shake the feeling that I'm playing catch-up (like a thick Scandanavian on Going for Gold).

[bandage]

I was really intrigued by Home and Away yesterday. So Tash shot Josh and dropped the gun on the floor but the cops say he died through head injuries (a fractured skull) so her shot was not fatal. Tash and Robbie don’t know that though. Robbie has confessed to murder as he doesn’t want Tash, who is pregnant, to take the blame. The scriptwriters yesterday seemed to be intimating that Robbie went back to the scene when Tash told him what happened, disposed of the weapon and struck the fatal blows. But I don’t think it’s that simple. I honestly think that while he may have disposed of the gun he did not kill him. He’s just trying to protect Tash and I believe there will be another twist. Missed last Thurs and Fri – can anyone tell me why Amanda is no longer a suspect?

[therock67]

I'd love an answer to your last question bandage. The last I saw of it Amanda was the prime suspect until Dan told Peter he didn't think it was she. Lo and behold she was free to go. At that stage she was still a suspect though so new evidence must have come to light. She told Dan the truth about everything in the past with Josh but surely that would only make her a bigger suspect. Also is the prime suspect's ex-husband and notorious gambler and father of her child the best person to vouch for her? I hope Detective Baker had more to go on.

I loved the little tribute to the Usual Suspects last night - with the two saying it was Robbie's favourite film and Detective Baker telling them that his favourite bit was when the detective found out that Kevin Spacey had been lying to him. Also the fax of the suspect coming through was a deliberate parallel with the film. Thinking back further the Usual Suspects opens with a scene where a man is shot but we see the build up to it, the victim's recognition of his assailant and then it cuts to an exterior shot of the building and we hear the gunshot and see the flash. This was almost identical to the manner in which Josh was shot. Add to that the parade of possible candidates as the real villain, each with a relatively compelling case, and they've done a wonderful tribute to a cracking movie.

Tash has already told Robbie that she killed Josh and Robbie didn't correct her so I'm not budging from the assumption that Robbie didn't do it. Are you sure the gunshot didn't kill Josh? I know he fractured his skull but I didn't know that was what killed him. Anyway it's highly probable that this blow to the head has some bearing on the case so I'd imagine that it's not as straightforward as I'm guessing at the moment. However I'm convinced that both Robbie and Tasha believe that Tasha killed him. I also believe Tasha when she said that "He wasn't dead when I left the building." She was very nervous during the whole questioning process (understandably) but I thought she was adamant on this point which leads me to conclude that she was telling the truth on this front.

[gilly]

Amanda was released because her car was caught on video camera leaving summer bay at the time of the murder corroborating her story that she was fleeing the bay that night.

The photo came in at the time Dan was pleading her case swearing she wasn't lying - but peter was having none of it and was all like so she swore on her son's life im supposed to take that to the judge? It was great the way peter shot Dan down. I didn’t like how Dan was all smug then though when Amanda had to be released.

I think Tasha was lying when she said Josh was still alive when she left because when she shot him she just ran from the building so she didn't hang around to see was he alive or not. She only said it to try and convince the police she was innocent - unless she was talking semantics as in he couldn’t possibly have died in the time it took her to leave the building.

[lyonsee]

Surely it's still murder if one shoots someone and they die by cracking their head off the ground when they fall, no?

Was pissed off with Robbie for being so careless with the surveillance tapes but I suppose you could understand his panic. I think Robbie went back to get the gun and surveillance tapes that night but I don't think he finished Josh off or anything. I'd say he was already dead. Having said that there's definitely going to be more of a twist in this storyline.

Anybody see Amanda and Dan have a little moment there last week. God it made me want to vomit. Hope to Jebus that both just fook off away. She's a shocking actress and his character is the most boring the Bay has ever seen.

[therock67]

I think the speculation above was that the fractured skull was not from a fall caused by the gunshot, rather a separate assault on the mayor. It's unlikely but West certainly had enough enemies to be attacked by two assailants.

Very poor from Robbie last night alright. His decision to dispose of them in the skip in the diner was highly questionable - what about the old Thompson mine as a burial ground or somewhere out in the bush? Worst comes to the worst fling them off the bluff into the sea where they'll at least be damaged by the salt water. Equally careless was the carelessness with which he tried to destroy the tapes. I'm sure an inventor like Robbie has access to acid r other corrosive materials. Stamping on the tapes and pulling them apart is never going to be as effective as chemical destruction. It beggars belief that he didn't put some effort into making them unreadable. Then again as Detective Baker suggested last night - people acting under pressure don't always make the best decisions.