This week on Home and Away in Australia, long-buried resentment and emotional trauma explode as sisters Lacy and Joe take their fractured relationship into full public view—culminating in a shocking physical altercation in the middle of the surf club.

What began last week as emotional fallout from David selling the family home reaches boiling point when Lacy and Joe come face to face over the one item Lacy truly wanted to keep: her mother’s eternity ring. While David’s surprise offer of $100,000 from the sale of the house might seem like a generous gesture to many, for Lacy, the money meant nothing compared to the deep emotional connection she had to the ring—and to the memory of their late mother.

Instead of feeling heard, Lacy is left devastated once again, particularly when she learns that the treasured ring is in Joe’s possession. For Lacy, it’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially since she still holds Joe responsible—at least emotionally—for their mother’s death.

Joe, meanwhile, is fighting demons of her own. Behind her strong exterior, she’s been experiencing intense PTSD brought on by that very same tragic night. Actress Madison Brown, who plays Joe, revealed that her character is still reeling from her mother’s death, with flashbacks and panic attacks showing just how deeply affected she truly is. “She tries to put on a brave face,” Madison said, “but inside, she’s falling apart.”

The tension between the sisters finally erupts in a fiery argument in the surf club, as Lacy accuses Joe of having no right to the ring—or to their mother’s memory. When Lacy crosses the line, Joe slaps her across the face in front of shocked onlookers. Chaos ensues, and it takes Theo and Ta to physically break the sisters apart as club president Alf Stewart watches in disbelief.

Lacy storms out in rage, while Joe flees to the beach, where Dne—whom Joe has been quietly growing closer to—finds her in tears. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Joe finally opens up to Dne about what really happened the night of her mother’s death. It’s a heartbreaking scene, as she shares the weight of guilt she’s carried for so long—guilt that’s been driving her strained relationship with Lacy.

As Tuesday’s triple bill ends, the sisters remain at a stalemate. But it’s Theo who may hold the key to reconciliation. Spoilers for Wednesday’s episode hint that Theo steps in to give Lacy a much-needed reality check. Is Lacy ready to let go of her anger? Could the ice between the sisters finally begin to thaw?

With family trauma, unresolved grief, and simmering blame all colliding at once, this emotionally charged storyline proves that Home and Away continues to deliver compelling, character-driven drama that resonates long after the credits roll. Will Lacy and Joe find their way back to each other, or has the damage been done for good? Viewers won’t want to miss what happens next.