Season 5 1996 - 1997

TV-PG

It's muck-up day at Hartley High. Last days before exams and the kids are looking forward to a taste of freedom for a day... Headmistress Dyson, however, has different ideas since she's found out that Education Department representative, Don Summers is dropping in for a visit. She's determined to have Hartley looking spotless and orderly... She has suggested the kids hold a cricket game. But this hasn't exactly got the kids enthused. Dani, meanwhile is nervous about the future. What will it bring, where is she going? She suggests the kids bury a time capsule to hold momentos that reflect where they are now. Katerina has a party, and since everyone is talking about their future, she decides they'll have a "Victor the Predictor" at the party. Everyone has to choose a name and guess what that kid will be doing what in 10 years time. This proves to have disastrous results, especially for Matt. Matt's future is already changing with the appearance of Sonny Bates, a guy who was expelle

Exam time has rolled around, and the pressure is building. Charlie is especially under the hammer: he needs top marks to get into university, but as he is studying his computer breaks down. What can he do? Ronnie is concerned when Declan is unable to finish an HSC practice essay. Although he wouldn't admit it to anyone, Declan's domestic situation looks like it will destroy his chances in the HSC. Bolton is feeling the hot breath of exam panic as well. After a school career consisting of little study and lots of skiving, he is finally facing the HSC firing squad. He joins with Stassy and the class moron, Bazza, to buy a "hot" history paper.

The Bordinos are overjoyed when Con returns from America bearing gifts and stories of his successes in real estate. There are expectations for him to return to the family business and resume his relationship with Katerina but all of that changes when Con stuns his family by introducing them to his new wife. Needing a friend, Katerina turns to Charlie whom she was quick to push away when Con returned. Ronnie is concerned when Declan does not turn up to the first exam of the HSC. When she investigates, Declan tells her he has been looking after his sick mum prompting Ronnie help him find care from his mother so he can resit the exam. When he shows no interest in the second exam, the truth finally comes out. Bolton has had a tough time in the first exam, so, desperate for help, he steals Stassy's lucky crystal.

A new student starts and her name is Melanie Black.The school dosent have enough money for the school formal so Ronnie arranges a party but only Melanie and Declan turn up.

Someone offers to buy the shark pool and wants to turn it into a nightclub. Charlie moves into the warehouse. Leo Fine has been using the sharkpool for illegal gambling and Matt and Stassy tell him they will call the police unless he withdraws his plans to turn the sharkpool into a nightclub.

It's HSC results day and the gang await their arrival with trepidation and excitement. Matt, confident, makes plans for his and Stassy's future together. But Stassy fails and her father turns up to ensure she abide by the family agreement and move back home. For Stassy this is the end of her life as she knows it. Katerina, intent on going to business college suddenly changes course and puts all effort into a dancing career. She becomes annoyed with the depressed Charlie when he decides to go back to school to get a better score. When Declan confronts Eric about ripping off the Education Department he offers him a deal and Declan, attracted by the money, finds he has been bought off. Melanie has a go at Declan about it and Declan finally confronts Eric.

Charlie wants to buy a car from Leo Fine but Declan advises him against it,as he knows Leo is trouble.Ryan Scheppers moves in with his Mum after his Dad kicked him out for failing his exams.

A new principle arrives, his name is Les Bailey.He isnt popular when he introduces a strict dress code for the students.A guy called Drazic starts causing trouble.

Bailey and declan clash and Declan scolds at him and Declan then quits school.Sydney is very hot and Draz gets Kat a fan but she dosent realize where he got it from.Bailey apologises to Declan and he returns to school.

Ryan stars dating a nude model.

There is trouble in the Scheppers' household when Ryan and Anita's estranged dad, Jeff, arrives. He has brought a gift for Anita, and seems to want to patch things up with her. Anita is pleased at her father's renewed attention, but is in for a disappointment when it seems Jeff is more interested in his relationship with his son Ryan who feels his father abandoned him. Will the Scheppers family be able to patch up its differences? Drazic borrows Charlie's car and smashes into the back of Les Bailey's car. When Les blows his stack and wants to catch the culprits, Charlie is keen to turn himself and Drazic in. Needless to say, Drazic thinks this is a dud idea and threatens to kill Charlie if he reveals the truth. Will Charlie stand up for himself and risk getting his lights punched? Over at the Shark Pool, Melanie is filling in for Declan. Katerina is taking advantage of Melanie's inexperience by making her do all the horrible jobs in the place. At first Melanie obeys Katerina's every

Katerina talks Melanie into holding a party in order to gain popularity. Melanie who is holding a torch for Ryan, hopes it will bring him closer to her. She spends up big on credit cards and initially the cost seems worth it. However, when Melanie's father's video camera gets broken she can't afford to get it fixed, Melanie realises that she has spent way beyond her means. And she is dismayed when Ryan tries to give back the expensive gold pendant she bought for him. Melanie learns you can't buy friends. Ryan decides to live and work with his father. Jeff says that they will need to mortgage the land Ryan's grandfather left him to expand the business. Ryan is shocked at this revelation concluding that his father came back for the money and not for him. When he accuses his father of this, Jeff is hurt and urges him to forget the business, keep the money, but Ryan realises he values his friends in Hartley and decides to stay. Charlie gets hauled up to play beach volleyball opposite D

New student, sharp and sassy Mai Hem baffles everyone when she agrees with Drazic when he makes pointed racist slurs.

Principal Bailey had entered Hartley in an inter-school volleyball competition. For Charlie, it is a dream come true: a chance to develop his skills and represent his school. Les has other plans however, he wants to win and manoeuvres Charlie and Bazza off the team. Volleyball makes strange bedfellows and soon Hartley is represented by the oddest of odd couples: Drazic and Ryan. The two rivals don't last long together and Bailey is soon asking Charlie to rejoin the team when Ryan quits. When Mai discovers that Anita has a passion for animal rights, she sees a golden opportunity to indulge in her favourite hobby, stirring. She encourages Anita to join her in a picket outside a human rights conference whose organiser attends wearing an expensive fur coat. Anita believes the protest will just involve them waving banners and shouting slogans, but when Mai sprays the woman with paint, it is Anita who gets left behind to answer to the police. Over at the warehouse, Katerina and Charlie are desperate. They are down to their last tin of baked beans and will be lucky to afford next week's rent. Unfortunately, the hunt for a new flatmate conflicts with Charlie's volleyball commitments leaving Katerina to find the ideal flatmate on her own.

Les hands out an environmental project which pairs Anita with Drazic. Anita can't imagine anything worse but is unsuccessful in her attempt to get out of the arrangement after having to fend him off when he tries to sleaze onto her. Forced to work with Drazic, Anita starts to see another side of him, noticing that he always seems to clown around in class to avoid reading out loud. Talking about her concerns, Hilary suggests Drazic may have a learning disability while Ronnie thinks Drazic may have a mild form of dyslexia. Anita finally convinces Drazic to take the necessary tests to make sure and offers to do some intensive remedial reading sessions with him. Drazic doesn't want her charity but she insists this isn't charity, she likes him and will go out with him to prove it.
Hurt and embarrassed after asking Mai out and being turned down, Ryan rationalises that her rebuff must be because she's gay. When Ryan confides his theory to Charlie, the rumour starts and begins to spread. Mai tolerates the situation for a while but when it threatens to get out of hand she confronts Ryan. When the misunderstandings are finally cleared up, Ryan has the effrontery to ask Mai out again.
Mai and Melanie are paired together for the environmental project. They approach the task from opposite angles with Mai seeking the easiest solution while Melanie shoots for top marks. Mai fills a bottle with outfall water and gets it analysed for pollutants while Melanie investigates why the local seagulls are dying around the outfall pipe. The water analysis shows little abnormality and Melanie is shocked to find it's a local lad who's shooting the birds. Mai scores the better mark, much to Melanie's chagrin.

Katerina and Charlie are stunned when they find a baby on their doorstep. Now they are faced with a dilemma — they either have to find the mother or call the police and risk having the baby sent to an orphanage. As they become more and more attached to the baby, neither can bear the second option but with no clues, where should they start looking for the mother? Anita finds herself falling for Drazic but is afraid to reveal her feelings for him to her friends and, most of all, to her over-protective brother. When the situation comes to a head, Anita is left with a difficult choice — give up on Drazic or defy everyone in the pursuit of love. Elsewhere, Les Bailey has made a most gratifying discovery about his least favourite student. In a routine check of the files, he has unearthed evidence that Mai did not complete enough subjects at her past school. Mai will not be allowed to complete the HSC unless she can prove that she knows enough about Geography to continue. Les challenges Mai to a test but Mai refuses. Who will win this battle of wills?

When Les decides to close the school newspaper to save money, Melanie and Mai settle in for a fight. Mai sets up an interview with the Minister for Education and tells Melanie that they have permission to take the day off to do it when they don't. Running late, Mai goads Mel into hitchhiking but the girls become worried about their driver's intentions when he starts to take them into a deserted industrial site. Anita and Drazic's relationship is going strong, much to Ryan annoyance. Anita persuades Drazic to perform a scene from A Mid Summer Nights Dream for the class but when he isn't doing too well in rehearsal, Anita finds a novel way to turn their scene into a success. Life in the warehouse becomes strained when Charlie and Katerina break up, again.

Melanie and Mai end up in a terrifying situation when they decide to hitchhike and as Anita and Drazic's relationship is blossoming, Charlie and Katerina's is on the rocks. When Les decides to close the school newspaper, Melanie and Mai settle in for a fight. Mai sets up an interview with a prominent figure and tells Melanie that they have permission to take the day off to do it — they don't! Running late, Mai goads Mel into hitchhiking with her. The girls become worried about their driver when he starts to take them away from where the wish to go and they end up in a deserted industrial site. There seems to be no escape! Anita and Drazic's relationship is going strong, much to Ryan annoyance. Anita persuades Drazic to perform a scene from A Mid Summer Nights Dream for the class but when he isn't doing too well in rehearsal, Anita finds a novel way to turn their scene into a success.

During a discussion in class about the "battle of the sexes," Ryan indicates that he prefers strong, intelligent and independant women. Mai and Melanie decide to put him to the test and write him up as a "case study of the sexist male" in the school magazine. When Ryan starts passing the test, Mai finds she is attracted to him. Melanie, feeling jealous, takes action to ruin any chance Mai has with Ryan. After visiting a supermarket, Drazic reveals to Anita he has stolen a carton of cigarettes. When Anita starts doing the same thing, she is caught by an irate store manager. Drazic rushes to her aide but in helping Anita get away, he is caught. Anita is faced with the dilemma of turning herself in to save Drazic or saving herself and leaving Drazic to take the rap. Les thinks it's time to embrace cyberspace and exhorts Ronnie and staff to do likewise. After turning down Charlie's request to buy new equipment for the school, Les purchases a computer that also runs an overhead projector apparatus. When he can't get the computer running, Les pulls Charlie out of class to enlist his help. Charlie discovers the problem and Les is left feeling very foolish.

The Scheppers family is fraught with tension as Anita comes to terms with her impending court case. Anita shuns the support and care of her family and friends, preferring to turn to Drazic. However, when Drazic spurns her advances and ends their relationship, Anita is forced to face her fear of court and the magistrate alone. In court, the magistrate is tough. While Anita has Hilary to speak on her behalf but Drazic is forced to rely on the help of a surprise ally. Katerina is miffed when she is overlooked for the upcoming inter-school quiz after Anita is forced to withdraw. When Ryan falls ill, Charlie and Melanie have no choice but to ask Katerina to fill in, despite their lack of confidence in her ability as a quiz whiz. Relations between Mai and Ryan are heating up. However, when Mai cooks a 'get-to-know-each-other' meal for Ryan things don't go quite as planned!

When Blair asks Katerina to partner him in a competition piece she soon finds herself falling for him and the feeling is obviously mutual. When Kat discovers that Blair is married with children, she must decide if she will continue to see him or dissolve the relationship. Having to vacate the warehouse for an evening, Mai asks Ryan if she can stay the night at the Scheppers. Both have different ideas of how the evening should go and neither is right! Hilary is not impressed when she returns from night shift the next morning to find Mai leaving — how will Ryan explain this one? Meanwhile, Drazic has been assigned his community service job and is mortified to find out he is to be the lollipop crossing guard at the local school crossing. Melanie, annoyed that Anita is still in love with him, puts her energy into doubling Drazic's embarrassment.

Les vows to throw Ryan out of school if he doesn't smarten up and hand in all his overdue essays by the end of the week. In desperation, Ryan enlists Melanie's help. Their study session begin well enough but it soon becomes apparent that Ryan expects Melanie to do the work for him. If Melanie helps Ryan out, is there a chance that her feelings will finally be reciprocated or is she just allowing herself to be used? The Shark Pool is plunged into turmoil when Charlie and Katerina each unknowingly hire one of their friends for a job at the Shark Pool.

Life at Hartley High is turned upside down by the arrival of new teacher Jay Jackson and his daughter, Aurora, and Melanie goes through a physical and emotional transformation. Jay is no ordinary guy, his teaching methods are unorthodox to say the least, and his choice of house is odder still. Predictably, Les dislikes Jay from the beginning but his dislike intensifies when Jay decides he knows what's best for the Hartley students. When life lets you down, you can either put up with it or change it. Melanie Black is sick of putting up with it — she no longer wants to be the victim. First she has to discard her old way of life, that includes her look and her attitude. However, in doing this, she treads on a lot of toes. Will this be Melanie's route to happiness? At the Scheppers' house, Ryan and Anita are grounded. To make matters worse, tickets are just about to go on sale for a concert by a breakthrough heavy metal band. If Ryan doesn't get the tickets, not only will he miss out on

Ryan's world is turned on its head when he has a car accident. He and Mai survive the accident intact, but Anita is seriously injured and left in a coma. Ryan is plunged into a world of guilt and recrimination, not only is he facing criminal charges, but he also has to face the fact that Anita may die as a result of his actions. Melanie is also hitting the depths of a personal crisis. She has decided to leave Hartley High to join Jay in the pursuit of happiness and meaning in life. Melanie's dad Tony not only tries to dissuade his daughter from joining Jay, but he is also determined to get Jay drummed out of his job for good! As Charlie grows closer to Aurora he is convinced that he has met his perfect match. However, all may not be as it seems, and Charlie is devastated when he sees Aurora in a passionate clinch with another man. Is this the end for Charlie and Aurora?

When Les decides to hold night classes at Hartley High, he has no idea just how disruptive they will be. He earns Mai's wrath when he bans the kids from the computer room after hours, effectively shutting down the school newspaper in the process. Ryan has little interest in helping Mai protest Les's decision but when he bans Ryan and his mates from playing basketball in the yard after school, Ryan decides that the only way to oppose Les is by calling a school strike. Mai is not impressed.

Drazic and Charlie find themselves in a dangerous situation when they disturb a burglar at the school. Drazic wrestles with the burglar and is able to rip off his balaclava but when the boys' statements to the police vary, the detective decides one of them must be involved. Knowing the burglar is his friend Marco, Drazic must choose between protecting his friend and clearing Charlie.

Charlie is worried when he notices that Anita is eating very little and vomiting after every meal. Reluctantly, he takes the problem to Hilary and the two decide to take action. Hilary admits Antia to hospital in order to shock her into eating properly again but will it work, and will Anita be able to forgive Charlie for his interferance? Ryan is getting restless. He has been going out with Mai for ages now, but she seems reluctant to commit to the next obvious step in their relationship.

Les welcomes Omar, a new student originally from Lebanaon, but makes it clear that trouble makers are not tolerated at the school. Omar assures Les that he just wants to study in peace. However, Omar gets off to a rocky start when he argues angrily with Ronnie in class. Things get even worse in the yard, when friction builds between Omar, Drazic and Charlie. It looks like his time at Hartley will be marred by confrontations. Charlie is becoming very attracted to Anita, but he doesn't know how to tell her. A bad situation gets worse when Charlie is asked to 'buddy' Omar during his first few days at Hartley High. Things are fine until Charlie begins to suspect that Omar is making a play for Anita, and when Anita falls for Omar, Charlie can't contain his jealousy. As difficult as things are at school, they are worse at the Warehouse. Not only is Mai trying to come to terms with her break up with Ryan, but Katerina and Drazic are on a collision course. Drazic has bought an electric gui

With the promise of easy money and a glamorous lifestyle, Katerina buys into a pyramid scheme selling health food products. At first, everything goes well for the budding entrepreneur, however, when it comes time to pay up, suddenly her customers realise they have no money.

Anita is shocked to discover Hilary dating a man much younger than herself. She lets both Hilary and Tim know in no uncertain terms that she disapproves. Charlie unwittingly finds himself in the firing line when he reveals to Anita that he knew about the relationship much earlier but didn't tell her. Mai and Katerina are chosen to do work experience at a high profile gallery. Mai, with her sights set on a career in the industry, desperately tries to make a good impression but it is Katerina who endears herself to renowned art world figure, Michael McCarthy. Sick of seeing Ryan and Drazic at each other's throats, Les sets them a task designed to get them to co-operate with each other.

It looks as if Drazic will be plucked from obscurity when he is spotted by a talent scout from an international blade skating team. But the path to fame and fortune is fraught with difficulties for Drazic. First, he has to prove he is good enough to be a member of the team - no easy task when he is up against some of the best bladers in the country. And even if Drazic does pass the test, will he be able to submit to the discipline and conformity required to be part of a team? Melanie has a surprise in store for everyone when she unexpectedly returns from France and has to move in with the Scheppers. Ryan is convinced that Melanie has come back to Australia because she is still infatuated and wants to start a relationship with him. As usual, Ryan has got it wrong. When Mai and the others want a common room for the senior students, trouble cannot be far away. At first, Les opposes the idea of such a potentially dangerous and ill-disciplined hang-out for the year 12 Hartley students, but

Melanie discovers and takes a liking to a homeless woman which causes problems with her father, and Drazic finds out that being part of the international roller blading team is not as great as he thought it would be. Melanie's parents' wedding anniversary prompts her to reminisce about her mother who died three years ago. Her feelings of loss are exacerbated when she is unable to communicate them to her father. When she discovers Grace, a homeless woman living in the school grounds, Melanie is drawn to her - subconsciously there is a hope that Grace will fill the void left by her mother. Drazic discovers being part of the roller blading promotions team is not all it's cracked up to be, however, quitting the team will cost him. Katerina and Charlie learn a hard lesson when their squabbles over a television set force Mai to take action.

The council issues Charlie with an ultimatum — either he moves his car from the Scheppers footpath or they will tow it away. Charlie's problem is that the car doesn't work and he can't afford to fix it. Salvation comes from an unlikely source when Drazic offers to fix the car free of charge. Of course, Drazic has an ulterior motive — fixing the car gives him the perfect excuse to spend time close to Anita - will this be his way back into her heart? When Ronnie gets violently mugged on her way to school, she decides it's high time the girls of Hartley High were offered self defence training. The girls are excited about the idea ... until they meet their instructor. At Hartley High, Les and Ryan find themselves unlikely allies in the struggle to have a pedestrian crossing put out the front of the school. After trying the legal method to no avail, Les decides to take the law into his own hands. Ryan joins the one man protest and soon student and Principal are languishing in the lock-up of

When Michelle Williams, an old friend of Hilary's gives Ryan a part time job at the marina he cannot believe his luck — the job consists of sunshine, great views and big tips. However, Ryan is brought back down to size when he realises he is being targeted as Michelle's toyboy. Will Ryan be able to fend Michelle off or will he have to leave the perfect job? Ronnie organises a sleep over at the school for the participants of the 40 Hour Famine. Charlie is enthusiastic until he realises Drazic will be there — he senses that Drazic is trying to get Anita back.

Anita and Drazic are back together but Hilary is adamant the relationship can't happen! When Anita threatens to leave home Hilary decides to confront Drazic, reminding him that their relationship violates his probation. Will Hilary's actions drive a wedge between her and Anita or is a compromise to be found? In the aftermath of the break-up Charlie announces that he is moving out of the Scheppers. He seems to be emotionally stable, but Melanie becomes suspicious of his state of mind when he turns up to school tired and unkempt and generally acting strangely. Mai, estranged from her family, is stunned when her father, who lives in Hong Kong, turns up unannounced. Katerina convinces her that family is important and Mai agrees to meet with him. Will she be disappointed once again?

Anita has had it with Drazic. She has long known that he can be a boorish yobbo, but when he insults a blind guest teacher, she has finally had enough. Anita makes it clear that she will have nothing more to with Drazic until he learns to be more sympathetic and empathetic with the people he so happily persecutes in everyday life. Drazic is in quandary — how can he show Anita that he is suddenly a more sensitive and caring guy? The answer is in a pair of blacked-out sunglasses. Drazic decides to "blind" for a day. He thinks it will be easy, but he is in for a shock. Over at the Black household, Melanie and Charlie are about to become more than just good friends and flatmates. After a night on the town celebrating their success in a science test, Hartley High's two biggest nerds find nirvana in one another's arms. In the course of a photographic assignment for art class, Katerina happens to get some candid snaps of Ryan in his swimming costume. At first it looks like she has scored the

Les gives an old mate and former colleague a break and appoints him as a specialist maths tutor for some of the HSC class. Tom's never had a student fail, but some of his methods are outdated. He picks on Katerina, trying to urge her to do her best but it has the opposite effect. She's demoralised, contemplates leaving. Ryan eventually realises what's happening and tries to intervene. Tom hits him — that's what they used to do in the old days. Strolling down the beach promenade, Mai is entranced by a good looking roller-blader nicknamed the Wizard who appears to spread a green philosophy via a series of stickers. Desperate to get to know him she's forced to enlist Drazic's help in order to learn to blade. Her initial attempts are dismal, even dangerous. Charlie and Anita broke up some time ago but it becomes increasingly clear that Charlie hasn't completely dealt with it yet. The issue is brought to a head through a series of video role playing exercises between them conducted by Ronni

Drazic and Anita have decided to take the big step — move in together. They soon find the flat of their dreams, but are faced by one problem — they have no money. To pay for the flat, Drazic takes on extra after hours work with Leo Fine. At first, all seems to be well, the work is easy and the pay is very good, but it soon becomes obvious that Leo is involving Drazic in some very shady deals. Draz is faced with a dilemma — should he get out of the job or continue to enjoy the fruits of crime? Les Bailey is a man with a mission. Every year for the past ten years he has played an annual golf grudge match against his fellow Principal and archenemy, Cliff Tucker. And every year, Les has lost badly. But Les is determined that this year will be different. However, before he can think about winning, Les has to hire a caddy; or, more accurately, he has to 'persuade' Charlie to haul his golf bag around after him. Can Charlie give Les the winning edge? Katerina is puzzled. She is the best

Les is appalled at the school's state of disrepair and demands that the Department takes action. He is shocked however, when instead of renovating, they decide to close Hartley High. Les finds himself without a school and without a job. But most distressing for him is the lack of any regret from his students. All students are moved to Hartley Heights, a neighbouring school. They all react in a different way. Mel tries to find an old student who's life has been changed by Hartley High. Draz and Ryan embitter Bailey's life because they need no longer to be afraid for punishment or suspension. They play a practical joke on Les by staging an accident. Les panics and calls an ambulance, but is furious to find that he has been tricked. He threatens to punish them but they laugh in his face — what can he do... he isn't their principal anymore. However, Les does have the last laugh. Mai talks the reluctant Anita into delivering gorillagrams — guaranteed easy money. In the beginning, everyth