In the aftermath of Kieran (Rick Donald) leaving the Bay, Martha (Belinda Giblin) has been struggling, refusing to accept that her son actually posed a threat to Alf (Ray Meagher) or that he had resumed his drinking. Despite the fact that her rage at Alf and Roo (Georgie Parker) has subsided, she is still an emotional mess.
When Ryder (Lukas Radovich) goes missing, her paranoia sets in, and she thinks Kieran abducted him as punishment for Alf reporting him to the police. Her satisfaction is palpable as it is revealed that someone else was responsible.
When she sees Kieran on the pier, she is taken aback and starts to inquire about his whereabouts. When Irene (Lynne McGranger) shows up, Martha knows she’ll have to tell Irene the truth about Kieran’s return. She introduces Irene to Kieran, but all Irene sees is nothing.
Irene takes Martha home, temporarily distracting her from her hallucinations. She takes Alf and Roo aside when they return safely and tells them the truth about the nature of her mental illness. The couple is taken aback and decides it’s time to intervene.
When they attempt to sit Martha down, she responds angrily, claiming that they’re trying to keep her away from Kieran, who she still thinks is lurking in the Bay. Alf realises it’s time to enlist professional assistance for his mom…