Tess – As the episode opens, young Simone (Bridgette Armstrong) and young Tess Owen (Mikaela Binns-Rorke) are at a pub where they meet a boy. When Tess and a boy kiss, Simone storms off. The next morning, Simone complains of a handover. Young Hat (Bella Ridgway) escorts her to the bathroom. Reaching for Simone’s bag, a battered Tess finds her panties. Young Joey Calley (David Howell) can be seen carrying Tess out of the pub. Simone is holding Tess’ panties.

Eden Murray tells Tess Owen (Jodie Whittaker) she admires her for telling the truth about her rape. Confused, Tess warns against listening to gossip. Questioning why Tess chooses to remain anonymous, Eden says her novel is “beautiful.” Denying she wrote a book, Tess demands she never come back before slamming the door. She tells Vicki (Kat Stewart) about Eden’s visit. An Internet search reveals “One Night.”

At a bookstore, Tess prepares to read “One Night” when she recalls bits of pieces of that night. In the background, young Simone tells young Hat that young Joey, young Trevor (Shane Osborne), and another guy are holding an unconscious Tess. Hat suggests they go to the police.

Tess discovers Eden has been calling her workplace. At a local restaurant, Tess confronts Simone (Nicole Da Silva) about the novel. Simone claims to have tried to tell her. Tess scolds her for publishing her “awful” experience without her authorization. Simone urges her to read it. Tess assures her that she will never read it. Simone accuses Hat (Yael Stone) of telling her about the book. Tess demands she apologize. Simone reminds her that it affected her too.

Jason Calley (Zac Burgess) takes a seat beside Lily (Jillian Nguyen) on the beach. He asks her opinion about his surfing. She vows to tell him tomorrow when a boy finds Sean’s broken surfboard floating in the water. Sean leaves with the surfboard.

Tess suggests buying every copy of “One Night” and burning them. Vicki assures her that the bookshops will only order more. In a flashback, young Hat and young Simone help a distraught young Tess out of the water.

Jason (Zac Burgess) suggests Sean hit his head while surfing. Mary (Noni Hazlehurst) spots a manila envelope on her truck. Sean opens the envelope to find a copy of “One Night.”

Vicky reads “One Night.” Elsewhere, Helen (Tina Bursill) suggests telling Lily about the rape but Tess disagrees. After admitting to having seen Jason, Tess questions if she will be able to stay there. Helen pleads with her to not run. In a flashback, Helen tells young Tess, Hat, and Simone that the clinic said the odds of obtaining a DNA sample after a bath are low. Assuring her there no evidence, she urges Tess to take the Morning-After Pill, an STD test, and mark it down as experience. Tess asks if that is what she should have done because she is not her.

In a flashback, young Tess reports her rape to the police. Young Simone claims Joey, Trevor, and another guy raped Tess. Tess places her dress and panties in an evidence bag. Back to the present, Tess attends a self-help session where she meets another sexual assault victim. They discuss their experiences.

Tess asks Hat for legal advice on how to fight “One Night.” She accuses Simone of stealing her story. Hat says it is not copyright infringement because she never wrote it. Tess reminds her of Simone writing the book without her authorization. Hat tells her that nonfiction and fiction works do not need authorization.

The Ocean View – While reading “One Night,” Joey underlines “Tony.” Simone writes about Bec and Tony who is determined to follow in his “gangster” father’s footsteps.

Vicki explains how Simone wrote in second-person like she was sometimes the victim. Tess is upset when Arthur “Art” (Jude Hyland) suggests not arguing in front of him. Vicki denies they are arguing. Tess tells him to find a family that does not fight when he walks away. Vicki pleads with Tess to let her in. Tess assures her that she does not want to be there.

In a flashback, Detective Clemens (Les Hill) asks young Tess if she has a problem with the accused. She denies knowing the third man. He says she had sex with him. She reminds him that it was rape. He warns that it may not be possible to charge the men without evidence unless they confess. He vows to keep her accusations private if she drops the case. She declines the offer.

Vicki asks Tess if she went to see Simone. Tess claims to have been sorting things out on her own. Vicki sniffs Tess’ hand. Tess asks if she believes she had sex with Simone. Vicki says she does not want to be with her. Tess informs her that she has an attorney consultation tomorrow. When Vicki tries to embrace her, Tess withdraws. Vicki questions if she truly loves women or just hates men.

At the train station, Joey demands Hat tell him who wrote the book. When she tries to walk away, he grabs her arm. He asks if Tess is calling him a rapist. Hat assures him that it is not Tess. He accuses Simone and her before cursing her.

Lily drinks alcohol with Jason and three other boys.

Baris (Wadih Dona) says Tess needs to prove anyone could figure out the rape victim is her. He says they could prove she has been misrepresented. Tess assures him that she was raped. Hat admits to saying Tess was too intoxicated to consent to sex. Baris points out that a case against the novel would be civil, not criminal.

Thirroul Beach – Jason and Lily are at Sean’s vigil when Joey approaches. Jason tells Joey that Lily moved there from London. Mary tells Joey to go pick up Trevor at the station. Lily and Jason make out on the beach. Tess and Vicki intervene when a boy tries to kiss Lily. Tess realizes Lily is wearing the dress (evidence in the rape case). As they approach their vehicle, Tess recognizes Joey and Trevor (Erroll Shand). At home, Tess demands Lily stay away Jason. Lily texts Jason to verify their meeting at the pub as the episode ends.

 

One Night Review

Tess learns about Simone’s novel, “One Night.” Simone tries to convince her to read it. Attorney Baris gives her two options, to validate that the story is untrue or prove anyone who reads the novel will know it is about her. Tess refuses to deny she was raped.

Helen tries to convince young Tess to not go to the police. She claims the clinic told her that a bath would wash away DNA. Ignoring her advice, Tess reports her rape to the local police Detective Clemens tells her that without evidence, it would be impossible to charge Joey, Trevor, and an unidentified man.

Someone puts a copy of the novel on Joey’s truck. He believes the character, Tony, is him. He demands Hat tell him who wrote it but she refuses.

Lily hooks up with Jason, a member of the Calley family. When Tess finds out, she demands Lily never see him again. Lily agrees to meet Jason at the local pub.

The muddled flashbacks are incomprehensible. The show is becoming more predictable by the episode. It appears as if Lily is about to find herself in the same situation as Tess.

Eden is an intrusively over-the-top character.

The scene in which Vicki smells Tess’ hand is ridiculous. Out of right field, Vicki asks Tess if she loves women or just hates men.

The episode deserves a 5.8. Get more One Night recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.