River City - 31/08/2010

As Big Bob tries to a write a love song for the woman of his dreams, Iona accepts an invitation from Drew to go away for the weekend. Bob, Drew and Iona meet at The Ship to rehearse and Iona tells Bob that the reason she is drawn to Drew is because he writes the most amazing love letters and they have captured her heart. Bob is horrified because of course he has been writing them for Drew, not knowing they were meant for Iona. Bob challenges Drew about the deception and Drew laughs it off, revealing that the letters have convinced Iona to go away for the weekend with him. Drew's true nature comes to the fore and Bob realises that Drew is only interested in Iona for sex. The measure of Bob's shock leads Drew to conclude rightly that Bob is in love with Iona himself. Drew blackmails Bob into keeping schtum about who was really behind the letters, telling him that he will reveal Bob's secret to Iona. But Bob must help him write a song to impress Iona. Bob initially agrees but can't bring himself to go through with it. Drew tries to force his hand and their squabbling alerts Iona that something is not right with their group. She assumes they want her out of the band so Bob confesses that it was actually him that wrote the letters. Horrified that she has been duped, Iona sends Drew packing. Bob tells her the reason he could write those beautiful letters is because he is in love with a wonderful girl. Iona doesn't realise Bob's talking about her - she tells him whoever it is would be lucky to have him, but she swears off men for a while. Iona thanks him for being a brilliant friend and leaves him alone. Back at the flat he sings the song he had being trying to compose to Iona from the beginning of the day - the words now flowing easily. Amber's day starts badly when she receives the contract for Hola. She then rejects Lee's advances and scuttles off to Shieldinch where she meets Scarlett. Amber pours her heart out to Scarlett about how hurt she is that Lydia has dealt with the Hola business so coldly. Amber tells Scarlett that it's proof that her mother no longer loves her - she just wants to buy her off by giving her Hola. Scarlett tries to take Amber's mind off it by getting her involved in Big Bob's rehearsals. A snubbed and angry Lee turns up on Montego Street trying to track Amber down. Scarlett inadvertently tells Lee about the contract - his immediate reaction is to worry that he has no involvement in this, no control of a part of Amber's life. He arranges a meeting with the Murdoch's lawyer, demanding he have his name put on the contract. The lawyer refuses as Amber has not agreed to it and, suspicious of Lee's intentions, contacts Amber to tell her of Lee's request. He also informs her that Lydia is going overseas for a while. Amber asks where and gets even more upset when the lawyer explains Lydia has asked for this to remain a secret. Desperate to cheer Amber up, Scarlett arranges an impromptu get-together in The Ship and gets Lee to agree to come. Lee arrives and charms everyone but the couple eventually leave on the promise of a surprise for Amber. On getting back to the house Amber discovers that the surprise is that Lee has redecorated the living room but more importantly bagged up all of Lydia's remaining things to throw them out. Horrified that Lee is trying to get rid of the only things she has left of her mum, Amber tries to wrestle the bags from Lee. Lee's paranoia that Amber is slipping away from his control turns to rage and he punches her. Both shocked by Lee's violence, they sit together in the hall. Lee explains that he only ever wanted to keep Amber safe and tells her that his dad used to hit his mum - he knows he's damaged but wants to love Amber as best he can. He offers to leave but swayed by his openness Amber kisses him and asks him to stay. Still angry at Deek, Chris approaches him and demands he returns a book he borrowed from the community centre. Trying to put Deek in his place, Chris refuses to wait and forces Deek to get the book immediately. Back at the flat, Deek and Chris find the door broken and realise Deek has been burgled - no TV, no computer, no stereo. However, Deek's heart almost breaks when he discovers the only remaining photo of his mum has seemingly been damaged beyond repair. Despite their differences, Chris decides to secretly help Deek and puts up posters asking for the Shieldinchers to bring whatever they can to Deek's flat to replace the stuff he had lost. Deek reacts angrily at first, claiming he doesn't need charity, but slowly as the Shieldinchers respond to the fliers and bring around anything they can, Deek's angry heart begins to melt. When Chris arrives with the photograph mended, Deek apologises and being a little scared to stay on his own after the burglary he invites Chris to stay for a few nights - an offer Chris readily accepts.