Home and Away star speaks out as Harper and Beau plot takes a darker turn

 "Harper is shell-shocked."

Home and Away star Jessica Redmayne has spoken out about the storyline involving Harper Matheson and Beau Hammond, with the arc taking a darker turn as he became violent towards his partner.

It has already become apparent that Beau is a nasty figure, with the character becoming increasingly controlling in his relationship with Harper. Furthermore, he also blackmailed Remi into keeping silent about his criminal activities in Summer Bay.

In scenes that recently aired in Australia, the couple went to Dana and Sonny's engagement party before coming home, with Beau being full of rage. He wanted some alone time with Harper, though she wanted to support her sister Dana.

As his anger increased, Beau lashed out at his partner and slapped Harper across the face. She was left shaken by the horrific incident, all while realising that Beau has a violent streak that puts her safety at risk.

Beau immediately apologises and reasons that he had a difficult upbringing, though Harper isn't willing to hear any excuses. She heads out and goes to collect Archie from Tane, though she has a change of heart and asks Tane to keep the boy a little while longer.

"In this moment of violence, Harper is shell-shocked and her first point of action is to get Archie and escape from the grips of Beau and his violent turn," Redmayne, who plays Harper, told TV Week. "She finally realises Beau isn't who he has made himself out to be."

There could be trouble elsewhere for Beau, as Rami informs Cash that the villain is selling steroids at the gym. Remi stops short of implicating Sonny, but Beau is taken down to the station for questioning – with Harper attending in support.

It also poses trouble for Sonny, with actor Ryan Bown teasing: "Sonny falls deeper into a world he doesn't want to be in, and the pressure of this life and this lie truly eat him up every day."