House Husbands: episode guide

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First Day

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Episode 1.1
Sun, September 02, 2012 (8:30)
Ratings: 1.376 million viewers (1st)
Written by Ellie Beaumont
Directed by Geoff Bennett

It's day one of the new school year and Justin, Lewis, Mark and Kane meet at the school gate. Justin is a disgraced football player who has been dropped by his team and his wife. She is now threatening to take custody of their three children. Mark is finding it difficult to return to part-time work for the first time in five years, while his wife juggles a full time career as an emergency doctor. Having recently sold a successful business, Lewis is having problems adjusting to his wife Gemma becoming the breadwinner. The four men unite when their children are involved in stealing the school bus.

In the aftermath of the bus incident, Kane is questioning his fathering abilities, when he manages to misplace the school principal and is assisted in her search by his new mates. It's not long until the principal is found, and the fathers return to school with time to spare for afternoon pick up. Justin is tempted by an offer of a new contract to play in Perth but is convinced by his new friends to stick around and fight for custody. It feels like with each other's support the unlikely foursome might be able to help each other through the challenges of parenthood. But there's a threat to the new arrangement when sparks fly between Justin and Lewis' adult daughter Lucy.

Starring: Firass Dirani as Justin, Gyton Grantley as Kane, Rhys Muldoon as Mark, Gary Sweet as Lewis, Anna McGahan as Lucy, Natalie Saleeba as Abi, Julia Morris as Gemma

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Matteo Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, Dahlia King & Summer Quinn as Angie; Bobby Fox as James, Marg Downey as Principal Moon, Louise Siversen as Assistant Principal Looby, Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Dave Thornton as Gabe, Jane Allsop as Rachael, Lawrence Leung as Jasper

Show and Tell

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Episode 1.2
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Ratings: 1.206 million viewers (7th)
Written by Ellie Beaumont & Drew Proffitt
Directed by Geoff Bennett

When Nicola, Justin's ex-wife, decides to get a valuation to sell the family home, Justin vows to mend his ways in a last ditch attempt to win her back. But when he loses Angie's toy bunny, it's confirmation for Nicola that Justin's incapable of looking after anything — including his family. When he finds and returns the toy it's too little too late for Nicola, and she rejects him once again. Justin's frustration and jealousy mounts against Nicola's boyfriend, and he sabotages any chance of reconciliation with Nicola, or winning full custody of his children by punching Rodney.

Meanwhile, Mark has a win at work and celebrates with a few drinks, winding up drunk at Parents' Show and Tell. When he's a hit with the kids, Abi can't help falling in love with him all over again. But there's a sting in the tail when Mark finds out that his new boss has taken credit for his idea, and he's now on shaky ground at work.

Gemma decides Lewis needs a friend and she match makes him with Justin. When Justin opens up about his family, Lewis reveals that he has regrets about losing touch with his middle daughter Phoebe, whom he believes is on a German exchange trip. Back at the pub, things continue to hot up between Justin and Lucy… Will they get together?

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Matteo Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, Dahlia King & Summer Quinn as Angie; Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Dave Thornton as Gabe, Jane Allsop as Rachael, Lawrence Leung as Jasper, Kellie Rode as Catriona, June Leijon as Tram Stop Woman, Katrina Conder as Mum, Tayla Bozelle as Little Girl

Music Mayhem

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Episode 1.3
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Ratings: 1.255 million viewers (4th)
Written by Ellie Beaumont & Drew Proffitt
Directed by Shirley Barrett

After Gemma is offered a promotion at work, Lewis agrees to put his work life on the backburner and take some of the load from her. But it's not long before Lewis gets restless. Gemma is hurt when she learns he's been involved in other projects and flirting with another woman just as she was about to propose! Knowing that he's made a big mistake, Lewis makes a grand statement to prove his love… and proposes himself.

When it hits the newspapers that Justin's up on assault charges for punching Rodney, he loses his job as a bouncer. Desperate for work he manages to talk Lucy into giving him a chance as a barman. At the Music Mayhem concert, Justin learns that Rodney and Nicola are engaged and slowly begins to accept the inevitable… Nicola is moving on.

Suspicions are raised when Abi and Kane's controlling father visits and asks to borrow money from Kane. Once it's revealed that it's a ruse, and that his father actually wants to give his son a deposit for a house, Kane rejects the money knowing there will be strings attached. When Noel shows a lack of faith in Kane's pie business, Kane becomes determined to succeed. With the help of Lewis, Kane finds himself with a lucrative new business venture.

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Matteo Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac, Nikita Leigh-Pritchard as Maddie, Tanya Burne as Kylie, Max Gillies as Noel, Chrissie Leigh as Newspaper Lady, Rob Plazek as Auctioneer, Maria Coviello as Shoosh Mum, Tony Chen as Henry Chen, Elizabeth Semmel as Music Teacher

Trivia Night

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Episode 1.4
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Ratings: 1.226 million viewers (5th)
Written by Ellie Beaumont
Directed by Shirley Barrett

Abi struggles with the guilt of being a working mum, and fails to follow protocol with a patient when she's distracted by her daughter's birthday. When she is criticized about not being there for Poppy by a mum with way too much time on her hands, Abi and Mark come into conflict. She accuses Mark of not supporting her. Lewis gives Mark some advice about how to handle Abi: man up and be a gladiator! But the advice backfires when Mark takes Lewis' suggestion way too far and winds up in gaol.

Meanwhile, the men band together to hold a trivia night, with Justin reluctantly agreeing to MC, it might assist his custody fight if he's more involved at the school.

Lewis realises there is something between Justin and Lucy when Justin lends her his car. Lewis tries to warn Justin off, but Justin ignores him and asks Lucy for a date. Will she say yes?

Kane learns that Stella has been acting like a cat in class and blames himself. When he discovers Stella has been hiding a stray kitten he realises he's not such a bad parent after all.

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard as Angie; Bobby Fox as James, Louise Siversen as Assistant Principal Looby, Cayde Joy as Police Officer, Ronald Falk as Bill Hoffman, Paul Herbert as Trauma Husband, Jane Harber as Georgina Rivers, Greg Costaras as Rick Miles, Nesina Viola as Bill's Daughter, Ben Anderson as Pete Rivers, Lachlan MacDonald as Gerry Lutonstein

Soccer Grand Final

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Episode 1.5
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Ratings: 1.133 million viewers (7th)
Written by Michael Miller
Directed by Catherine Millar

A five-year-olds' soccer Grand Final manages to bring all our House Husbands into conflict. Kane doesn't appreciate Lewis muscling in on his job as coach and Mark doesn't appreciate Lewis' not-so-subtle hints that Poppy belongs on the sidelines peeling oranges. Lewis is not happy to discover Justin is bailing out on the final training session, especially when the reason is that Justin has a date with his daughter Lucy.

Lucy is mortified when at the beginning of the date, baby Angie is left in her care and she mistakenly believes Angie has swallowed a charm from her key ring. This brings Nicola and Justin into conflict. When Nicola discovers that this is not the case and that Rodney has been hiding the charm to assist in their custody fight, Nicola is infuriated she doesn't want to stoop to that level.

Meanwhile, Lewis takes surprising action to foil Lucy and Justin's relationship. Even though Lewis believes Justin's not suitable for Lucy, he finally comes around to accepting their relationship. All this is brought into perspective when a tumor is discovered on Stella's lower back, Tom turns to water and Kane proves himself to be the stronger of the two. Wanting to prop up Kane, but not knowing how, Lewis enlists Justin's help to fix Kane's roof. Ultimately, at the soccer match, Lewis drops his guard to offer true emotional support. Will Stella make it through the surgery?

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, Dahlia King & Summer Quinn as Angie; Bobby Fox as James, Adrian Auld as Max

Phoebe Arrives

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Episode 1.6
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Ratings: 0.961 million viewers (10th)
Written by Christine Bartlett
Directed by Catherine Millar

Lewis is taken aback when his middle daughter Phoebe lands on his doorstep, pregnant, just before his wedding day. There are more shocks to come when he learns that she has not been in Germany on a student exchange, but just down the road in Frankston getting pregnant. Lewis and Gemma see this as an opportunity to repair the damage they may have caused Phoebe and offer for her to stay. While she initially rejects their help, ultimately they are able to prove their support for her.

Meanwhile, things are getting hot and heavy with Justin and Lucy as they take their relationship to the next level. Mark gets over involved in his boss' life and ends up parenting her son, when an idea of his fails to find a market. Gemma insists she doesn't want a hen's night out, so when Abi brings the hens to the house Gemma feels uncomfortable in the presence of Phoebe. In the end Gemma and Lewis settle for a low key wedding. Will Phoebe's arrival put an end to the celebrations?

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Georgia Flood as Phoebe, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac, Jane Allsop as Rachel, Peter Glennon as Travis Newman, Louis Corbett as Jay Newman, Jane Hall as Sarah, Harley Bonner as Adam, Chloe Reid as Maree, Marita WIlcox as Celebrant

Harmony Day

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Episode 1.7
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ratings: 1.040 million viewers (5th)
Written by Matt Ford
Directed by Geoff Bennett

In the lead up to Harmony Day the House Husbands are busy prepping food and costumes to reflect their kids' culture. Justin realises that he might need to play hardball if he really wants to get full custody and decides to get some incriminating evidence on Rodney. Knowing that Rodney used to have a penchant for strippers and booze, Justin talks Lewis, Kane and Mark into going to a gentlemen's club on his behalf to catch Rodney in the act.

But things don't go as planned when Kane inadvertently touches up a hostess and Justin is forced to come to his rescue. It's there that Justin crosses paths with the woman who ended his marriage… Sophie Jones. She still carries a torch for him and outlines an illegal scam that involves Rodney. When Justin steals a phone containing incriminating text messages, he has all the evidence to take Rodney down, but can he drag this family through another scandal?

Witnessing his preoccupation with the custody battle, Lucy realises Justin's kids will always be his number one priority… will they split up because of this?

With: Tim Campbell as Tom, Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Georgia Flood as Phoebe, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, as Angie; Bobby Fox as James, Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Jake Ryan as Zeeban; Sally Hately, Jamie King, Lili Simpson as Pole Dancers; Chris Asimos as Barrett Cox, Lauren McKenna as Hostess, Chantelle Jamieson as Sophie Jones, Ryan Fitzgerald as Bouncer, Richard Anastasios as Bouncer 1, Terry Carter as Bouncer 2

Court Case

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Episode 1.8
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Ratings: 0.944 million viewers (8th)
Written by Leon Ford
Directed by Geoff Bennett

It's the day of the custody hearing. Justin arrives on Nicola's doorstep looking for his suit, when Jacob drops a bombshell: Nicola is changing the kids' last name to her maiden name. Justin is shattered. Ruffled by this exchange, and with the kids misbehaving, Nicola is at the end of her tether. She yells at Zac and throws his football in the bin.

Later, on an excursion, Zac sees a garbage truck and breaks away from the group to find his football. When he goes missing, Mark and Miss Nadir feel equally responsible and a deep bond is formed in their desperation to find him. Blaming herself for Zac's disappearance, Nicola lets her guard down with Justin, but it's short lived once Zac is found. Tensions are high in the court room. Who will be awarded full custody?

In preparation for Phoebe's baby, Gemma realises that she may want to have another baby herself, much to Lewis' surprise. Mark gets a promotion, but it's short-lived. Losing Zac and lending his support for Justin at court, he missed a work commitment. His boss demotes him on the spot and warns him that his job is on the line… . After his day from hell, and getting little support from Abi, he discovers her back home studying very closely with the handsome Dr James O'Connell from work. After an argument with Abi, Mark goes for a drink at a bar and runs into Miss Nadir…

With: Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Georgia Flood as Phoebe, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, as Angie; Bobby Fox as James, Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Jane Allsop as Rachel, Darren Scott as Garbo, Jenny Seedsman as Magistrate, Robert Shook as Precision Driver 1, Daryl Suter as Precision Driver 2

Farewell at the Dodgems

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Episode 1.9
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Ratings: 1.045 million viewers (4th)
Written by Christine Bartlett
Directed by Shawn Seet

After kissing Miss Nadir, Mark is consumed with guilt. Following Lewis' advice, Mark doesn't say anything to Abi. However, with Abi appeasing her own guilt for being an absent mother and helping out Miss Nadir in the classroom, it is only a matter of time before she finds out… Kane and Tom's home life is put under the microscope when they take the first steps towards becoming foster parents, while Justin struggles to say goodbye to his kids.

With: Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Georgia Flood as Phoebe, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, Dahlia King, Summer Quinn as Angie; Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Jane Allsop as Rachel, Jerome Ehlers as David, Brendan Hawke as Young Bloke, Mingzhu Hii as Foster Interviewer, Jeff Green as Go Cart Announcer

Head Lice

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Episode 1.10
unday, November 04, 2012
Written by Ellie Beaumont
Directed by Shawn Seet

With Justin on the run with his kids, Lewis, Mark and Kane band together to find him before the police do… but Phoebe's baby has other plans. Lucy takes matters into her own hands. Can she make him see sense before it's too late? Reeling from discovering Mark kissed her daughter's teacher, Abi puts on a happy face but Gemma can see through it. Unable to forgive Mark, Abi puts her career on the line… and discovers something that could change their future, forever.

With: Leah de Niese as Nicola, Nicholas Coghlan as Rodney, Tim Campbell as Tom, Georgia Flood as Phoebe, Lily Jones as Poppy, Edwina Royce as Stella, Madison Torres-Davy as Tilda, Mattea Annetta as Jacob, Riley Webb as Zac; Winter Samson-Wetere, Lincoln Beard, Dahlia King, Summer Quinn as Angie; Julian Basso as Baby Crabb, Louise Siversen as Assistant Principal Looby, Kate Jenkinson as Miss Nadir, Katy Brinson as Hustine, Lachlan McDOnald as Gerry, Nikita Leigh-Pritchard as Maddie, Ariel De Los Reyes as Karaoke Singer, Josh Feldschum as Policeman