John Palmer has been battling a quiet emptiness ever since Irene’s departure from Summer Bay. He’s been doing everything he can to hide the ache she left behind in Home and Away. He’s thrown himself into social plans, determined to prove he’s fine but those closest to him can see the strain.
So when a well-meaning camping trip is arranged to lift his spirits, John goes along, unaware that the night ahead will confront him with something far more unsettling than loneliness. Because this time, it’s not just his emotions haunting him, it’s something he swears he heard in the dark.
Trying to Fill the Void Irene Left Behind
John’s struggles began the moment Irene stepped away to embrace her new path. He tried to honour her outlook, organising a dinner at Salt to show he was adapting. But despite the laughter that night, Justin quietly spotted the truth, John was forcing happiness he didn’t feel. Later, when everyone had gone home, John shed a tear he thought no one would witness. It prompted Justin to tell Leah he intended to keep a close eye on him.
A poker night soon followed, an attempt to surround John with mates. Although he enjoyed the camaraderie, losing $300 to Alf did little to lift his confidence. The next day, John arrived brimming with energy, suggesting more group outings from the local paper.
But when Justin explained he only meant for the meet-ups to be occasional, disappointment washed over John, revealing how desperate he was to fill Irene’s absence. Mali knew that what John needed wasn’t just a night out; it was a breath of fresh air far beyond the bay. And so, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
A Trip Meant to Heal in Home and Away
Determined to help his friend reconnect with something deeper, Mali arranged a spontaneous camping trip and urged John to pack, the car was leaving within the hour. John hesitated, unsure if he was ready to be alone with his thoughts in the wilderness.
But Mali’s promise to share Blackfella wisdom and a reminder of nature’s grounding power convinced him. Tane, at first reluctant, eventually agreed to join. He had his own troubles; Harper moving on with someone else left him uneasy, and time away felt like a welcome escape.
The trio journeyed deep into the national park, with John entertaining them with old Navy tales, slipping comfortably back into the role of storyteller and leader. Once they arrived, John’s instinct to take charge surfaced as he offered camping tips, even as he awkwardly battled his own tent.
The mood lightened as Mali played a prank on Tane involving supposed kangaroo droppings. Later around the fire, Mali shifted the tone, sharing a chilling childhood encounter with the legendary Hairy Man; a figure he once dismissed as folklore until, he claimed, he had seen something himself.
John’s Fear Takes Hold
That assurance faded quickly when darkness fell. Alone in his tent, John lay awake, alert to every sound. Branches crackled. Shadows moved. Something, he insisted, breathed just beyond the canvas. By morning, while Mali and Tane rose refreshed, John was already at the fire, cooking breakfast with eyes that hadn’t slept.
When he questioned them about the noises, Tane teased that perhaps he feared the Hairy Man, but John denied it, he wasn’t scared, only cautious. Still, he refused to let the fire burn out.
When he casually asked what would happen if it did, Mali deepened the tale, saying that if the Hairy Man made eye contact or touched someone, they would become one themselves. John didn’t laugh this time. Moments later, he abruptly announced he had urgent surf club business and needed to return to Summer Bay. Mali and Tane exchanged glances. Something had truly rattled him.
After John walked away, Tane quietly confessed to Mali that he had wandered during the night. He was the one who snapped branches and tossed a rock into the creek. He claimed it was meant to distract John. If he was thinking about legends, he wouldn’t be drowning in thoughts of Irene. Mali couldn’t help but notice the satisfaction on Tane’s face; their plan had worked, perhaps too well. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for all the latest Home and Away spoilers.