River City - 22/09/2009

The Murdoch family are fractured when Amber discovers her mother and father were responsible for Stuart being jailed. Amber hides out at Deek’s place while Lenny and Lydia row. Lydia is furious that Lenny told Amber he’d dispatched Stuart on her request. Lydia doesn’t accept this, insisting she never said for Lenny to fit Stuart up and have him arrested. Meanwhile, Amber seeks out Ewan and asks him to run away with her. Amber realises she’s on a hiding to nothing when Ewan reveals his main worry is Lenny finding out that it was him who told Amber about Stuart in the first place. A devastated Amber seeks comfort in Deek, Nicki and Bob. Lydia insists that Lenny brings Amber home. Lenny tries to get through to Amber; he tells her that the business with Stuart had nothing to do with her mother and that he’s sorry. Amber refuses to accept Lenny’s apology and tells him she never wants to see him again. She also reveals to Lenny that it was Ewan who told her about Stuart in the first place. When Lenny returns to Lydia he discovers she’s packed bags for her and Amber. She’s planning to take Amber and leave him. Lydia finds Amber and asks her to come away with her. Lydia promises Amber that they can start a new life away from Lenny and the lies. Amber agrees and they leave Shieldinch. Lenny is furious with Ewan and blames him for the breakdown of the family. He throws Ewan out and is left all alone in the house. Deek manages to patch things up with Bob and Nicki when they come over to help him deal with Amber. Bob is grateful to Deek for his help in dealing with Michael Learmonth and the two old pals get things back on track. Bob and Nicki agree to move back in. Over at the salon, Jack is disappointed when Gordon reinstates Hayley after he had fired her. Jack tells Gordon it’s him or Hayley, and is horrified when his old pal chooses Hayley! Jack’s pride lands him on the street but he’s determined to discover what power Hayley holds over Gordon. Once everyone has left the salon Jack sneaks back in for a look around; he discovers Gordon’s will and sees that Gordon is leaving his entire estate to Hayley. Jack summons Gordon to the salon and demands answers. A reluctant Gordon confesses that Hayley is his daughter but she doesn’t know it! Jack is stunned but tries to use the situation to his advantage and threatens to tell Hayley if Gordon doesn’t give him his job back. Gordon refuses to be blackmailed so Jack sets off to tell Hayley the truth. When Jack finds Hayley he realises he can’t do it. Meanwhile Gordon waits nervously. When he realises that Jack has kept his secret he apologises to his old buddy and gives him his job back. Jack urges Gordon to tell Hayley the truth but Gordon says he can’t. Scarlett is putting a brave face on things after her ordeal at the hands of Michael Learmonth and wants to carry on as normal. Jimmy thinks she ought to take some time off work but Scarlett just wants to get things back to normal – and normal includes throwing out any traces with Michael and ditching her idea to go to college. At the Tall Ship it dawns on everyone that Scarlett’s not coping as well as it first appeared. Jimmy steps in and takes an upset Scarlett home. Jimmy makes Scarlett see that giving up on her dreams would mean that Michael Learmonth had got the better of her. He gives her a copy of his favourite book to read. Scarlett is touched by Jimmy’s kindness and support.