Summer Bay is never short of drama, and next week’s episodes of Home and Away promise to deliver another high-stakes storyline that could determine the future of Mali Hudson’s surfboard business.

What begins as a well-intentioned trip to support family quickly spirals into a potential financial disaster, leaving Mali with one heartbreaking ultimatum: demand his staff step up—

or face the collapse of everything he has worked so hard to build.

A Family Duty Turns into a Costly Gamble

When Mali left the board shop under the care of his newest employee, Lacy, he had no idea just how risky the decision would prove. His departure was driven by family obligation; his sister Lani needed help with childcare back in their hometown of Manor Point. For Mali, family always comes first, and he believed the business could run smoothly in his absence. After all, what could possibly go wrong in just a few weeks?

The answer: almost everything.

It wasn’t long before the cracks began to show. In a devastating revelation, it turned out that Lacy—who had been hired only weeks before—didn’t even know how to surf. For a surfboard shop where lessons are the main revenue stream, this was a catastrophic oversight.

Lacy’s Desperate Deception

Instead of admitting her lack of experience, Lacy scrambled to cover her tracks. She turned to her boyfriend Theo, persuading him to run the surf lessons in her place. Initially, it seemed like a clever quick fix. Even when Mali discovered the arrangement, he reluctantly agreed to let it continue, trusting that things would be fine until his return.

But it wasn’t fine. In fact, it was disastrous. Within the first couple of weeks, the shop was already running at a loss. Abigail, ever loyal and supportive, stepped in to help oversee the business alongside Lacy. Together, they tried to patch the holes and reassure themselves they could hold things together until Mali returned.

Unfortunately, time only worsened the situation.

A Business on the Brink

By the time weeks had passed, the problems had snowballed. The board shop faced a growing list of issues: disgruntled students demanding refunds, backlogged custom board orders, and stock management failures. With finances slipping into dangerous territory, Abigail and Lacy were forced into a difficult decision.

Theo, who had given up his chance to return to the garage to dedicate himself fully to the board shop, was suddenly let go. It was a heartbreaking move, particularly since surfing meant so much to him. But Lacy felt she had no other option—the business was crumbling, and something had to give.

Still, letting Theo go only dug the hole deeper. Without him, the shop lost its most reliable income source: the surf lessons. Refunds piled up, and customer dissatisfaction grew louder.

Mali Returns to Chaos

As fate would have it, Mali’s return came sooner than expected. While Abby debated how best to break the news to him, a phone call from her boyfriend revealed that Mali was already on his way back to the Bay.

Reuniting with friends Mac and Levi, Mali seemed in high spirits, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around his beloved business. But Abby could no longer hide the truth. The next morning, she confessed: Theo was gone, the customers were restless, and the books needed urgent review.

Mali, ever the optimist, brushed off Abby’s fears. He believed they could fix it—after all, he had overcome challenges before. But when he finally inspected the shop, the scale of the crisis became undeniable. Angry students, delayed board deliveries, and chaotic inventory pointed to one conclusion: the business was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Abby’s Brutal Suggestion

Abby, pragmatic as always, urged Mali to take decisive action. The solution, she insisted, was clear: Lacy had to go. The shop needed someone competent enough to both manage day-to-day operations and run the crucial surf lessons. Without that, there was no saving the business.

For Mali, the thought of firing Lacy was painful. She had stepped up in his absence, even if imperfectly, and she clearly cared about the role. Yet, his loyalty to his staff couldn’t outweigh the financial reality—unless drastic action was taken, the shop wouldn’t survive.

The Ultimatum: Sink or Swim

When Lacy arrived at the shop, Mali initially expressed gratitude for her efforts. Lacy, wracked with guilt, downplayed her role, admitting she was just glad she could help. But the tension between Abby and Mali didn’t go unnoticed, and soon Lacy realized her job was hanging by a thread.

Rather than immediately firing her, Mali proposed an alternative—a last chance to prove her worth. If Lacy could learn to surf and take over the lessons herself, her position would be secure. If not, she would have to go.

It was a shocking ultimatum, one that put the entire weight of the business’s future on Lacy’s shoulders.

A Make-or-Break Moment

For Lacy, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This job is more than just employment—it’s her chance to prove herself in Summer Bay, to build independence, and to stand alongside Theo and Abby as someone capable of responsibility. But learning to surf is no small feat, especially under the pressure of saving a failing business.

The question now hangs in the air: Will Lacy rise to the challenge, or is Mali’s gamble just another misstep that will drag the board shop deeper into financial ruin?

What This Means for Summer Bay

This storyline highlights the ongoing struggles of Summer Bay’s younger residents to find their footing in life, love, and career. Mali’s plight resonates with anyone who has ever tried to juggle family obligations with professional commitments. His good intentions—to help his sister—have left his business vulnerable, showing how even small decisions can spiral into monumental consequences.

For Abby, the story reinforces her role as the voice of reason, though her harsh honesty risks alienating Mali and Lacy. Meanwhile, Theo’s departure from the shop adds another layer of emotional weight, as fans wonder whether he might return at a crucial moment to save the day—or if this marks the beginning of a new chapter for him elsewhere.

As Home and Away gears up for another week of drama, fans are left on the edge of their seats. Will Mali’s surf business sink under the weight of poor decisions, or will Lacy’s determination turn things around?

One thing is certain: in Summer Bay, nothing stays calm for long.