Drowning in drama
Bridgette is desperate to win back Zoe’s trust, but first she needs to figure out where she is… and how she got there.
Businesswoman Bridgette (Denise Newman) is teetering on the edge of an abyss. Her life was plunged into chaos after her secret was revealed recently: she broke up her niece Zoe’s (Lauren Joseph) relationship with Wade (Dean John Smith) last year with the help of Zoe’s current hubby Tim (Marco Spaumer), who works for her at Jacobs Property Development. Bridgette wants to make peace and fix her relationship with Zoe, but the young woman and the rest of Bridgette’s family aren’t ready to forgive and forget. So to numb her pain, Bridgette starts drinking again and wakes up on a farm, thinking that it’s the year 1996.
ALONE IN THE WORLD
Denise says that her character feels isolated because everyone is stunned by her behaviour. “Bridgette thought that she may get some sympathy from her employee Chris (Marcel van Heerden), but even he isn’t willing to listen to her explanation.” Wade is on the warpath too, and he confronts Bridgette. “She tries to apologise to
Wade, but like Chris, Wade knows that Bridgette doesn’t mean it, nor will she tell him the truth,” says Denise. “Bridgette knowingly destroyed his life, his relationship with Zoe, and she regrets it now only because she can’t fix it.”
DISAPPEARING ACT
Zoe’s resignation pushes her aunt past breaking point this fortnight. “Bridgette realises that she’s losing Zoe and begs her not to leave. But Zoe’s had enough,” says Denise, whose character is about to fall further from grace when she misses important meetings, which is uncharacteristic for the business owner. Two days later, Bridgette wakes up with a horrible headache and it’s not just a hangover. “She was the victim of a hijacking while drunk, and now concussed, she doesn’t know where she is or when. She’s convinced that it’s 1996 and she was on her way to he dad’s funeral,” says Denise.
When she gets back to Ruiterbosch, Bridgette’s health worries her neice, especially her refusal to accept that it’s 2021. “They’re concerned and Bridgette behaving this way makes things uncertain for her future,” says Denise, whose character thrives on control. How will she now deal with the fact that she’s helpless? The answer is definitely not at the bottom of her bottle…
It’s been almost a year to the day since charming but troubled André (Marcus Muller) showed his abusive side when he beat and raped his girlfriend Mariaan (Deirdre Wolhuter). André’s brutality was difficult to watch, and he was forced to do introspection in prison. Now, claiming to be a changed man, André is desperate to be released on parole – because his life may depend on it. “It’s been nothing short of dramatic,” says Marcus, whose character was locked up with some of the very people he’d put behind bars. And more recently he’s been targeted by a prison gang, led by Boeta (David James) and Ty (Wilhelm van der Walt), after he alerted authorities to a planned jailbreak. “With Ty and Boeta back in prison with André, his life is under threat for ratting them out,” adds Marcus.
RUNNING SCARED
Desperate, André turns to his girlfriend Connie (Quinne Brown) for help. But with little to no knowledge of parole proceedings, Connie asks Hillside law pro Lesedi (KB Motsilanyane) to plead André’s case. “They take the angle that André’s life is in danger since there’s a bounty on his head,” Marcus reveals.
HECK NO!
“He’s been assaulted, which is why he’s been transferred to a more isolated and secure facility.” André has also been an exemplary prisoner and Lesedi hopes the parole board will consider that too.
Marcus admits that his character isn’t betting on freedom. “Connie is optimistic about the hearing, but André doesn’t show much enthusiasm.” Connie is hard at work making living arrangements for when her beau gets released. Unfortunately, not everyone in Hillside shares Connie’s celebratory mood, with many residents refusing to forgive and forget. Most notably, Mariaan’s son Rickus (André Lotter), who co-owns The Heights flats. “Rickus tells Connie that he doesn’t want an abuser living in his building – ever,” Marcus emphasises.
THE REDEEMER
The one person who truly matters – Mariaan – is more understanding when she learns of André’s parole plans. “She is rather calm,” says Marcus. “Mariaan trusts the law will prevail.” Does André deserve a do-over? Marcus believes he does for showing remorse. “Anyone willing to admit their wrongs and take steps to move forward deserves a chance.” Let’s hope André has learnt his lesson…