TRIGGER WARNING: This article mentions illicit drug use and sexual assault.
The Battle of The Bands contest was supposed to be a fun night out for Felicity, yet turned into a harrowing ordeal. Now, police officer Cash feels helpless.
After learning of his sister Felicity’s (Jacqui Purvis) sexual assault, a despairing Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) is wrestling with his guilt on Home And Away this week.
Felicity can’t remember what happened.
(Image: Supplied)As a police officer, he prides himself on protecting people, so knowing he wasn’t there is tearing him apart. He vows to do the only thing he feels he can: find who did this and make them pay…
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Meanwhile, Felicity is struggling to find a way forward. She tries to seduce husband Tane (Ethan Browne) as a distraction, but when he declines, she assumes he no longer finds her attractive. But Tane can see she needs professional help before it’s too late.
“Because this trauma is so severe, she reacts in ways Tane doesn’t understand,” Jacqui says. “Flick feels dirty, depressed and used after the sexual assault, and is scared Tane sees her the same way, so she over-sexualizes herself to him.
“Tane knows it’s not what’s best for her, so is cautious, but it might push her away.”
“She’s very groggy, has no voice…”
(Image: Supplied)Did you miss Home And Away last week? Continue reading to find out what happened.
Felicity (Jacqui Purvis) wakes to find herself shivering and struggling to move in a room at the back of the nightclub. An unsteady Flick pulls her view into focus and tries to think: what happened?
What she doesn’t realise is that a mysterious figure spiked her drink when she and her pal Eden (Stephanie Panozzo) were on the dance floor.
“At first, Flick has no idea what’s happened – she’s very groggy, has no voice and her limbs don’t work as they should,” Jacqui tells TV WEEK.
“When she tries to sit up and realises her dress is ripped and her bra is showing, she suddenly suspects what has happened.”
Emerging from the room, she collapses in Eden’s arms. Lyrik withdraws from the competition, knowing how serious the matter is. At hospital, Dr Bree (Juliet Godwin) gently seeks information from Flick, who believes she may have been sexually assaulted.
“It’s torturous,” Jacqui says.
“She doesn’t want to believe it, but has to, unfortunately. Bree helps her realise the horrible situation and helps her through a rape kit [examination] so that if she wants to get the police involved, she has the option.”
At home, Tane (Ethan Browne) waits for his wife. When told the disturbing news, he’s angry that Felicity’s friends could allow that to happen – but also wracked with guilt for not being there.
Meanwhile, her brother, policeman Cash (Nicholas Cartwright), is none the wiser as to his sister’s ordeal.
Felicity is determined to put the ugly incident behind her, but Eden and Tane fear she’ll spiral, as she did after the car accident wrecked her wedding day.
Eden urges her to confide in Cash.
“As a lot of women would be, Flick is scared, and feels so much shame,” Jacqui says. “She blames herself. These kinds of attacks don’t just hurt the victim, but the people around them – they’re also affected and there’s a lot of guilt too.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
