Season 4

February 3, 1997

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.

February 10, 1997

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.

February 12, 1997

Con returns from the USA and surprise the whole family when he brings his wife to meet them!. Declan dosent turn up for any of the exams.

February 17, 1997

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.

February 19, 1997

Someone offers to but the shark pool and wants to turn it into a nightclub. Charlie moves into the warehouse.Loe 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.

February 24, 1997

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.

February 26, 1997

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.

March 3, 1997

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.

March 5, 1997

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.

March 10, 1997

Ryan stars dating a nude model.

March 12, 1997

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.

March 17, 1997

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

March 19, 1997

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

March 24, 1997

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.

March 26, 1997

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.

March 31, 1997

Katerina and Charlie are stunned when they find a baby on their doorstep.

April 2, 1997

When Les decides to close the school newspaper to save money, Melanie and Mai settle in for a fight.

April 7, 1997

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.

April 9, 1997

After stealing (for fun) with Anita, Drazic is caught by the store manager. Mr. Bailey ask Charlie for help with his new computer. After a "battle of the sexes" class discussion, Mai and Melanie decide to test Ryan's misogyny.

April 14, 1997

Before they face the court together, Drazic and ends his relationship with Anita. Charlie and Melanie have to replace Anita for the inter-school quiz. Mai and Ryan relationship continues to advance with a special dinner.

April 16, 1997

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.

April 21, 1997

Principal Bailey threatens to fire Ryan if he doesn't hand all his overdue essays. Anita and Katerina are hired for the same job at the Shark Pool. Drazic is banned from his lollipop duty, but principal Bailey finds him a new duty.

April 23, 1997

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.

April 28, 1997

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?

April 30, 1997

When Les decides to hold night classes at Hartley High, he has no idea just how disruptive they will be.

May 5, 1997

Drazic and Charlie find themselves in a dangerous situation when they disturb a burglar at the school.

May 7, 1997

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.

May 12, 1997

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

May 14, 1997

With the promise of easy money and a glamorous lifestyle, Katerina buys into a pyramid scheme selling health food products.

May 19, 1997

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.

May 21, 1997

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

May 26, 1997

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.

May 28, 1997

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.

June 2, 1997

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.

June 4, 1997

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?

June 9, 1997

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.

June 11, 1997

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.

June 16, 1997

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?

June 18, 1997

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.