Carly Lucini

Carly Lucini (nee Morris) was one of the original characters in Home And Away. She was first seen in January 1988 (Pilot Episode) and departed in May 1991 (Ep 758). She made guest appearances in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2008. Carly was fostered by Tom and Pippa Fletcher and moved with them to Summer Bay. She was played by Sharyn Hodgson.

Biography[]

Carly Lucini
Character Profile
Birthday:	14th November 1970
Birthplace:	Australia
Father:	George Morris
Mother:	Susannah Morris
Siblings:	Samantha Morris
Spouse:	Ben Lucini (1990-)
Children:	Jordy Lucini Michael Lucini Phillippa Lucini
Occupation:	Waitress at Bayside Diner (1989-1991)
Played By:	Sharyn Hodgson

Backstory[]

Carly Morris was born on the 14th November 1970 to George and Susannah Morris. Carly had an identical twin sister Samantha. Although her family was well off, home wasn't a happy place for Carly or her mother. George was a loving father to Samantha but cruel to his wife and to Carly. Carly later claimed that if her father had called an ambulance in time when her mother fell ill, she wouldn't have died. After Susannah's death, Carly's home life deteriorated. She was was fostered by Tom Fletcher and his wife Pippa.

1988-1991[]

In January 1988, Carly moved to Summer Bay along with the rest of the Fletcher family. At first, she clashed with new foster sister Bobby Simpson but the pair eventually became friends. Trouble was never far from her in her new home. Shortly after her move to Summer Bay, she accidentally caused life-changing injuries to Summer Bay High's then headmaster Walter Bertram. She and Bobby were being harassed by local dimwits Lance Smart and Martin Dibble, and in revenge she released the handbrake on their truck. Unfortunately, the truck rolled down the street and smashed into Bertram's car, causing him to suffer a brain injury.

Shortly afterwards, Carly went hitch-hiking and was raped by the motorist who picked her up. She tried to keep her assault under wraps but eventually it began to take a toll. She began to drink heavily and took drugs. Although she got help, it didn't stop her from failing her HSC. Although she tried to repeat the year, she eventually dropped out of school. She briefly went out with Matt Wilson and then, Adam Cameron.

Carly's father and twin sister re-entered her life in June 1988. Samantha was now a successful model and was being managed by her father. The pair believed they could make money by exploiting Carly being Samantha's twin, and she fell for their lies. As well as managing to turn her head, they succeeded in driving a wedge between Carly and her foster family. Even though George didn't appear to have any affection for his daughter, he did not care for Tom Fletcher either. Carly realised that she was being set up in time and returned to the Fletchers, chastened.

Carly became friends with several students at school but also made some arch enemies such as Alison Patterson and Judith Staples. Carly got involved with Gary Samuels who turned out to be a nasty piece of work. He jumped off a cliff when him and Carly were arguing, expecting to find a ledge underneath to break his fall (he had pulled this trick before). The ledge had broken away in the meantime, Gary plunged to his death and and Carly was initially suspected of his murder. Witnesses saw Gary jump, so Carly was cleared.

In early 1988 Carly developed a crush on her teacher Andrew Foley. After he was caught consoling her, rumours started circulating about him and Carly. He was forced to leave the school and wasn't seen again until the following year. Carly went through a difficult time, becoming estranged from her foster family for a time and taking drugs. When she finally went for counselling in 1989, her counsellor was Andrew Foley. He had changed careers during his time away from the Bay and couldn't resist finding out what had happened to Carly. They quickly became a couple and got engaged. Carly was shocked to learn that Andrew was an alcoholic as well. After he relapsed and went away to get help, Carly handed his ring back.

Carly got a job working in the Bayside Diner, even though it was clear that it wasn't really her scene. In 1990 she met her future husband Ben Lucini. He was a soldier who was taking some leave, along with his friend Dave Porter. They rented a caravan in the Caravan Park. Carly and Ben were instantly attracted to each other but ran into problems when Dave tried to undermine them. They got engaged but there was to be another bump in the road. In April 1990 Tom died of a heart attack. He was sadly missed when she and Ben married not too long afterwards. They moved into Summer Bay House after the wedding.

She and Ben tried to buy the Norfolk Boatshed but were devastated when the owner reneged on his agreement to sell to them. The business was sold to newcomer Michael Ross who had inadvertently gazumped them. Ben was livid at first but then accepted a job working as a mechanic there. Carly recognised the spark between Pippa and Michael, and encouraged her foster mum to go out with him.

Things didn't run smoothly for Carly and Ben. They argued over when they should start a family but eventually agreed that it could wait a while. Then Ben quit his job at the Boat Shed and decided to try his hand at farming. He leased a farm and they moved into a tiny little farmhouse on the property. Carly struggled to settle there and things got steadily worse for them. Ben lost his chickens to an incurable disease and some local hoons killed his goats. Then Ben's old army friend Pete Besser came to stay. Pete and Carly clashed repeatedly and he wasted no opportunity to tell her that she had changed Ben for the worst. Ben, who had been adrift for quite a while, realised that the army was the only place where he truly belonged. He decided to rejoin but didn't tell Carly until after the event.

Carly and Ben split up, largely because she couldn't bear anything connected with the army. To complicate matters, she learned that she was pregnant. She decided to raise her child as a single mother and returned to Pippa's house. On the morning of Pippa's wedding to Michael, Ben unexpectedly showed up. He had gone absent without leave from the army in the hope that he could get Carly back. The Military Police were hot on his heels and they knocked on the door while the wedding reception was in full swing. After much deliberation, Carly decided to give her and Ben another go. Ben was taken away by the Military Police and shortly afterwards she travelled to Perth to join him.

1997 - 2008[]

Carly made brief returns in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2008. She was last seen in Episode 4609 when she returned to mark Sally Fletcher's departure from Summer Bay. She was still married to Ben and by now was mother to three children.

Memorable info[]

Birthday: 14th November 1970

Full Name: Carly Lucini (Nee Morris)

First Line "Yeah, but you see all those things on TV about older men losing their jobs, and not being able to get another one." (to foster father Tom, after he had just been retrenched from his job)

Last Line "Look, she's just a fraud, she can't wait to go. I'm gonna go round up Stevo." (to Sally and Miles)

Personality[]

While never a villain, Carly's self-centredness and selfishness caused problems for herself and others at time. Her early life as a rich kid meant she could be vain and snobby at times. She was horrified when Tom Fletcher took a job on the local road gang. Over time she became a kinder, mellower person though she still had her moments.

Being raped while hitchhiking in 1988 had a profound effect on her, and led to her becoming an alcoholic. She later took drugs but kicked those after counselling in 1989.

Family[]

Father George Morris

Mother Susannah Morris

Siblings Samantha Morris (Twin sister)

Grandmothers Ellen Morris

Spouses Ben Lucini (1990-)

Children Jordy Lucini, Michael Lucini, Phillippa Lucini