Tane (Ethan Browne), who abducted baby Poppy, is finally brought before the court after a false start earlier in the week when he became involved in some unpleasant business in the water.
Three months have passed since Tane discovered Poppy left alone on the shore. At Northern Districts Hospital, Tane refused to leave her side and gave her the Maori name for bravery: Maia.
Tane decided he would be the one to look after Maia when the police started looking for the parents. He persuaded Roo (Georgie Parker) to apply in his place as he started the procedure, even after Harper (Jessica Redmayne) informed him that he wouldn’t be able to become a foster parent because he didn’t have permanent Australian status.
After a physical altercation with a Coastal News journalist, Tane disregarded the police’s order to remain away from Maia. As a result, he was later served with an AVO prohibiting him from approaching Poppy.
After being let into the hospital by Dana (Ally Harris) to “say goodbye,” Tane chose to do a runner with the baby instead of accepting the news that Roo’s application had been denied by a local foster family, which shocked him.
Additionally, Sonia Rickard (Olivia Beardsley), Poppy’s biological mother, arrived to the Yabbie Creek police station at the same time. She was ultimately informed that her child had been abducted once her identification was confirmed, but Roo reassured her that Tane was merely watching out for Poppy and that she was safe.
After a national TV plea, it was Harper and Mali (Kyle Shilling) who eventually persuaded Tane to turn himself in, even though they almost got charged themselves in the process.
After being freed on bond, Tane pouted and stomped all over his predicament, turning down offers of assistance and not talking to his attorney.
Tane went into yet another downward spiral after finally agreeing to show up for lawyer Marshall (Nic English), only to find out the next day that Marshall had inadvertently had an affair with Tane’s ex-wife Felicity (Jacqui Purvis).
After further irritating sequences in which Tane was imprisoned for the night and obstinately refused to explain to Rose (Kirsty Marillier) why he had been late for his bail hearing, Tane ultimately consented to collaborate with Marshall in order to avoid going to jail.
By persuading Poppy’s mother Sonia to defend Tane in court, Marshall appears to have pulled off a blinder, which will undoubtedly be extremely beneficial for the case. However, Harper and Dana were taken by surprise when they received a subpoena to testify against Tane.
The court hearing is eventually rescheduled after a 48-hour delay, but in the interim, Marshall has had some additional time to prepare Tane’s defense.
Tane is practically guaranteed to receive a penitentiary term of up to 15 years, so Marshall is aware that he has his job cut out for him. Their only option is to attempt to reduce Tane’s time behind bars.
According to Ethan Browne, the Australian magazine TV Week, “I think he’s accepted his fate.” “He’s psychologically bracing himself for the worst, realizing his error and the potential for severe prison time.
“He thinks everything doesn’t work in his favor and knows how the system operates.”
Dana is called to testify first, and she seems nervous. The judge, Tracy Mann, is in charge of the proceedings.
Prosecutor Matthew (Gerard Carroll), who was last seen in the case against Irene, questions Dana over the AVO that followed the incident between Tane and Coastal News reporter Peter (Roman Delo).
Although Dana was not present on that particular day, she affirms that the nursing staff was aware of the AVO. Matthew claims that Tane had taken advantage of her goodwill and tricked her into allowing him to see the infant after she had shown her sympathy for him to the court.
Dana is certain that she has ruined everything for Tane as she departs the witness stand, but when Harper starts testifying, she surprises everyone by being evasive and responding, “I don’t recall,” to each of Matthew’s inquiries.
Harper finally admits that Tane took the decision to return with the baby on his own when the judge threatens to find her in contempt of court and Tane pressures her to confess the truth.
After that, Marshall gets a notice from the court requesting an adjournment because of an urgent matter. It comes out that Sonia has had second thoughts and will not be testifying on Tane’s behalf. Tane’s case appears hopeless in the absence of their key witness.
Marshall is informed by Flick that she is at fault for Tane’s entire predicament after he storms off. They would not have broken up and this situation would not exist if she hadn’t prevented Tane from becoming a father.
Marshall devises a scheme as she continues to confess about taking the pill while they were trying for a child and questions whether that’s why Tane subsequently had such an obsession with Poppy.
Tane is hurled back into the courtroom when Marshall abruptly chooses to call him to the witness stand. Marshall tells Tane that this might be their only opportunity, even though they had already agreed that it would be a horrible idea.
When Marshall starts asking Tane about his marriage and whether it’s true that their separation was caused by a conflict over children, both Tane and Flick are taken aback.
When Marshall inquires as to whether Flick had lied about wanting children, Tane is at a loss for words, but when Flick gives him the go-ahead, Tane acknowledges that it is true.
After revealing Tane and Flick’s unclean laundry, Marshall wraps up by saying that Tane acted out of a deep-seated need to care for and protect others. Tane’s honesty and good character should be the court’s main focus, as that was all he had wanted to do was protect Poppy.
As everyone heads back to the surf club to await word on the sentence, Marshall is unrepentant. He knew that if he had informed Tane beforehand, he wouldn’t have gone through with it, and it was his only option to bring up Tane and Flick’s marriage in the absence of Sonia’s statement.
Ethan went on, “He’s not happy about it at all.” “He believes Marshall and Felicity made a dirty move by disclosing their personal information to him.”
Afterwards, Flick concurs with Marshall that she values keeping Tane out of jail more than maintaining their secrecy.
Tane spends some time by himself with the gym punchbag before Harper shows up with a bottle of alcohol. She was only attempting to do the right thing, Tane notes, and he thanks her for putting her neck on the line.
There’s spark between Tane and Harper as Harper tells him he needs to realize how much she cares for him. Tane and Harper find themselves kissing passionately in no time.
“Harper provides him with solace and encouragement,” Ethan continued. “And he leans in toward the friendship because it helps him deal with the situation.”
In the gym, the two spend the night together in an improvised bed. The following morning, Marshall calls to wake them up. The judge has already made up her mind.
Mali notices that the two make an awkward, if distinct, exit from the gym, and Tane returns to the court to find out what will happen to him.
Is he going to jail right away?
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