Carolyn Duncan

**Carolyn Duncan** is the daughter of Elizabeth Bligh and her late husband Lewis Bligh and is the sister of George Bligh. She is biologically the mother of George's daughter Anna and is the aunt of James Bligh. Through James, Carolyn sis the adoptive great-aunt of Georgie Bligh. Through Anna's marriage, Carolyn is the mother-in-law of Gino Poletti.

## Biography

### Early Life

As a child Carolyn, was always a bit of a rebel in comparison to the rest of her family. Her childhood sweetheart was known around the town of Inverness to be Jack Duncan, and at a young age Carolyn fell pregnant with Jack's baby. When the family discovered this, Carolyn's mother Elizabeth Bligh hatched a plan that would allow for the family to avoid scandal. The plan being that Carolyn would have the child abroad, and then the child would be raised as Carolyn's niece with George Bligh, Carolyn‘s brother, acting as the real father to the child. The child turned out to be Anna Poletti, and for twenty years Anna was kept in the dark about her true parentage. Following the pregnancy, Carolyn believed that it was this that led to he becoming the black sheep of the family. Once Anna had been given to Elaine Bligh and George, Carolyn was exiled to Sydney where she began to live an unconventional life and began attending more parties. This would eventually lead to he being greatly estranged from her mother. However, she was sure to keep a close bond with Anna. unfortunately their relationship had to be one of aunt and niece, rather than what Carolyn truly wanted, a mother-daughter relationship.

### Series 1

Carolyn is fist seen when Anna goes to visit her in Sydney, at this point, Anna is oblivious to Carolyn being her mother. While visiting Carolyn, Anna asks for Carolyn for her help in buying contraception for Anna's secret Italian lover Gino. While there, Anna and Carolyn go to a show, and Anna tells Carolyn about her secret, poor Italian lover. However Anna's next visit is much more serious as Anna believes that she might be pregnant. At first, Anna tells Carolyn that she is here to visit because she wants to get away from Regina Bligh who has come along to visit. However soon Anna confides to Carolyn that she thinks she may be pregnant. Carolyn comforts Anna and the two embrace. Later, Anna asks Carolyn if she will help her if she is pregnant, to this Carolyn replies that she will do anything to help her, except an abortion. This confuses Anna because with an abortion, the pregnancy could stay a secret, Carolyn then gets tearful and makes an excuse to quickly leave. Carolyn is so upset because unknown to Anna, Carolyn is her mother and it would break her heart if she allows Anna to go through with it. The next day Anna goes with Carolyn to the doctor, there Anna learns that she is with child. Carolyn then embraces Anna and comforts her saying it will be fine. Carolyn eventually persuades Anna to tell Gino, who is Anna's love and father of the child. However once this is done Anna tells Gino she has a plan, Anna goes Sydney and asks Carolyn is she will go abroad with her and have the baby there.

At this moment Carolyn decides it is time to tell Anna the truth. Carolyn takes Anna to the bench where she decided on her heartbreaking choice. There, Carolyn finally tells her daughter who she really is. Carolyn begins to cry and begs Anna not to hate her for not being strong enough to keep her. But Anna tells Carolyn that, despite the shock, she always loved Carolyn and now she loves her even more. This story and all the truth telling helps Anna to decide to keep the child, and this overjoys Carolyn. However, not all is happy, as only hours after this decision Anna suffers a miscarriage and loses her baby. Carolyn then comes and comforts her daughter. Carolyn later returns to Inverness where she boards the train and sees a mother playing with her daughter to which she is saddened by as she reflects on what she has been forced to miss out on with Anna, upon arriving to Inverness station she is hesitated to tell Doris Collins about why she has suddenly returned and then heads for the hospital. Upon arrival Carolyn arrives at Jack Duncan's office where she greets him and they both state how long it has been. Carolyn then deeply exhales before tells a shocked Jack that she has come to talk about their daughter.

### Series 2

Carolyn returns to Ash Park and after a long time Carolyn finally decides to tell Jack that he is the father of Anna, however in the end she only tells him that he has a daughter with her. This greatly angers Jack and he swears he will find out his daughter's identify. Also James comes to Carolyn looking for a therapist who will help him to overcome his homosexuality, but James does not tell Carolyn who the therapist is really for, so Carolyn directs James to a therapist that specializes in women's cases rather than men's. This is a terrible mistake, as James is forced to undergo a terrible treatment that mentally and physically scars him greatly. When Carolyn realizes that the therapist is for James, she is horrified as the therapist is very cruel to men. Carolyn rushes to tell George and Sarah who eventually free James. Luckily James is saved, and Carolyn is very relieved. Meanwhile, Jack begs Carolyn to tell him who his daughter is. Eventually, she decides to tell Jack. Through this, Anna, Carolyn, and Jack become closer again. And at Carolyn's party in Sydney she kisses Jack but he runs from the room, and Carolyn is shocked and worried as to why Jack has done this. Eventually Jack tells Carolyn that he cannot have children as he is sterile following the brutal attack on his testicles during his incarceration in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp camp during the war.

This shocks Carolyn, but she tells Jack she doesn't care as she loves him more than anything. The two finally make love and grow closer than ever. Carolyn does however come to blows with Regina Bligh because when Carolyn learns that Regina is using her knowledge of James's sexuality to continue her presence at Ash Park, Carolyn is outraged and tells George in a bid to rid James and the house of the devious Regina. This works much to Carolyn's pleasure as Regina has been terrible to Carolyn and James but hides her evil side form George. At Anna's wedding Carolyn is excited to walk down the as Anna's mother proudly for the first time in her life. When Regina's plan reaches the point of success, Carolyn is furious when she learns from Elizabeth what Regina's true intentions are. A little later on when Carolyn goes on a picnic with Jack Duncan, the two laugh and seem to be growing closer and more loving than ever. However, Carolyn is stunned to see that Jack is proposing to her. Despite telling Jack that she loves him she tells him that if they marry then one of them would have to leave their lives behind, Jack then tells Carolyn that maybe it was time one of them changed. Hinting to him moving to Sydney for Carolyn, to this Carolyn is greatly touched.

### Series 3

Carolyn is with Georgie, Olivia, and James when Regina rides to Ash Park screaming for help, Carolyn asks worryingly what has happened and Regina reveals George has been shot by Rene Nordmann. Carolyn calls to Regina as she then rides off again leaving the three alone worried on the front courtyard. Once James calls the ambulance and the police Carolyn drives to Sydney to be with George while he goes into surgery.

When Carolyn and James arrive at the Sydney hospital where George is going to theater. Carolyn comforts her mother while they worry what will happen. When Regina creeps into George's hospital room Carolyn and Elizabeth find her and are furious at the willfulness of Regina trying to woo George while he lies unconscious. Following Regina leaving, Elizabeth suffers a heart attack, this petrifies Carolyn and she desperately calls for help. Soon Henry Fox and James arrive, while Henry assesses Elizabeth, Carolyn tells Fox that Elizabeth's condition is far worse that's she allows people to know. Later when George wakes up from the sedation Carolyn is delighted and then happily tells James she can now telephone Anna to tell him what's happened. Anna then arrives and Carolyn laughs with George that Anna refers to the situation as a "pickle". Carolyn later returns to Ash park now being in a more serious romantic relationship with Jack Duncan, the two are very happy and their relationship is closer than ever.

Later on when George Bligh finally asks who Anna's real father is, Carolyn decides that as Anna and Jack already know George should be told as well, she then tells her brother that Anna's biological father is Jack Duncan. This surprises George but he takes it well and happily asks Carolyn to tell Jack he wants to meet him. When Olivia Bligh decides she wants a family portrait of her, James, and their baby she goes to Carolyn to ask for a suggestion of the artist as Carolyn knows a lot of artists from the city, Carolyn suggest Lloyd Ellis Parker who arrives the next day. Later when a card party is held at Ash Park to support George's political campaign Carolyn meets Sir. Richard Bennett, for a second time after seeing him at the dinner party where George announced his political aspirations the previous week. She then agrees with Elizabeth Bligh on he is old fashioned and that his beliefs demean women, however at the card party with Carolyn's charm and knowledge of art Richard offers her a job in his newspaper as an art gossip columnist. Carolyn is at first reluctant but agrees to the occupation, Carolyn then tells Jack who at first jokes that their relationship is over as Carolyn will be seduced by the bright lights of the city and she will want to stay there. Carolyn then tells Jack that she liked the seducing part of the sentence, in response to this Jack and Carolyn sneak off to make love. However Elizabeth is less supportive than Jack and tells her that she should be careful as the public may not like what Carolyn writes. Carolyn is annoyed at Elizabeth's lack of support but does see Elizabeth's valid point. Carolyn then goes to Sydney where she writes her first article. The article is about women with no female friends and is aimed at Regina. Carolyn then invited Jack to her Sydney Apartment where she is overjoyed and stunned to find that Richard has published her article.

Carolyn is then even more shocked when Richard decides to give her a full time job. Later, when Carolyn is invited to one of Richard's parties, she invites a gay friend. Elizabeth then reminds Carolyn that her job could go as quickly as it came if she keeps pushing Richard. However, disaster strikes when Carolyn invites Richard to drinks alone at her apartment. This worries Jack and tells Carolyn that she should be cautious, Carolyn gets angry at Jack for thinking she is cheating on him. Then Jack is angry at Carolyn for think he is accusing her of this when he is only attempting to help. Carolyn then sends Jack away and returns to Richard in her living room, yet Jack was right and brutally Richard attacks Carolyn and rapes her. The next morning Carolyn wakes up exhausted and alone on the floor of her bedroom, Carolyn then stumbles to her living room where she finds there to be glass all over the floor and her proposal for a new artwork section in the newspaper to be ripped and stuffed underneath the sofa. Carolyn then pulls up her sleeves and finds big bruises all over her arms from where Richard has hit her. Alone and feeling dirty Carolyn weeps and sobs in her apartment. Carolyn is then depressed and feels totally alone, yet despite this sadness Carolyn feels dirty and unclean after what has happened.

Briefly Carolyn regains some confidence and confronts Richard in his office, however she is devastated to learn that no one will believe her and that her name would be dragged through the mud if she did anything. Richard then adds salt to injury by blackmailing Carolyn, saying that if she was brave enough to step up against Richard then he would make sure George would never become a politician. Carolyn then returns to Ash Park where she learns that George is planning to marry Regina, yet she is displeased by this and when Regina spitefully gloats to Carolyn she tells Regina to go to hell. Carolyn then attends the wedding and at the reception Jack notices that she is drinking a lot more than usual, when he tries to ask why Carolyn pulls away because she no longer feels clean and the only feelings she feels is hatred for herself for letting the rape occur. Later when Sarah's husband dies, Carolyn attends the funeral and offers her support. When Anna has a fight with Gino in the middle of the night, she goes to Ash Park where she confides in her mother Carolyn. The fight was about Gino keeping secrets from Anna, and Anna then tells Carolyn that Carolyn would never have this kind of problem with Jack because they tell each other everything.

Hearing this finally prompts Carolyn to tell Jack about her rape, when she tells Jack he is angry and tries to hug Carolyn but she pulls away saying she is unclean and disgusting for what has happened. Jack then tells Carolyn that he will do anything to help Carolyn through, while sobbing Carolyn is touched by Jack's words. Carolyn then begins to allow herself to love Jack again, however when a policemen comes in only a few seconds a later asking about why a girl who had an illegal abortion was treated by Jack, Carolyn is shocked and worried. As the two have their own big problems they turn to each other and hold hands lovingly while Carolyn looks shaken but a little happier that she has Jack on her side.

### Series 4

After Carolyn's decision to tell Jack the truth about her traumatic rape, the two are stronger than ever supporting one another as Carolyn has to face the aftermath of her rape whilst Jack faces possibly getting his licence revoked. She heads back up to the city, where she gets a very unwelcome visit from Sir. Richard. Terrified Carolyn backs away from the door as Sir. Richard pushes his way in, saying that she has no need to be afraid of him, as she holds up a coat rack to try and fend him away. But despite Carolyn's efforts to shoo away her rapist, Sir. Richard forces Carolyn into serving him information about Olivia and James's sham marriage. Carolyn quickly refuses to tell him anything informing him that it is a family matter, although he cruelly threatens to rape her again which forces Carolyn into telling him that they are planning to divorce. As Sir. Richard finally then leaves her apartment, Carolyn distresses at her ordeal and is clearly horrified at her predicament. Meanwhile, Olivia comes to visit Carolyn in a bid to try and work out what will happen to Georgie. Carolyn under the instructions of George Bligh tries to convince Olivia to give up Georgie and divorce James under the alias she was unfaithful. Angry at Carolyn's suggestions, Olivia furiously remarks that this is truly only a solution that the Blighs could have cooked up. Back at Ash Park, Carolyn and Jack are about to be intimate when Carolyn's rape continues as a catalyst for her emotional closure with Jack when she backs out at the last minute. Sanded and ashamed at herself, she breaks down upset at the fact she can't even be a good lover anymore. She confides to Jack that this whole ordeal has made her feel dirty and ashamed at her whole life choices, upset that Sir. Richard used all the men she had been with to justify what he did to her. Jack however is very supportive and tells Carolyn that whenever she is ready, he will be here waiting for her. The following morning, in a bid to show her commitment to Jack, Carolyn agrees to set a date for her wedding. Elizabeth Bligh arrives up in Sydney, and stays with Carolyn at her apartment. The two bond over the time they spend with one another, and Carolyn becomes very vulnerable. Which ultimately leads to Carolyn finally telling her mother the truth about what happened that night when Sir. Richard. raped her. In response to this Carolyn returns to Inverness, and tell that Elizabeth knows. Later when Carolyn learns that Sir. Richard is attending the dinner with the prime minster, she opts not to go which leads George to question why although Carolyn doesn't tell him the truth and decides to return to Sydney. On the night of the dinner party, Carolyn receives a phone call and expects it to be Jack. Although she gets a startling surprise when it is George calling from Ash Park, but she only realises this following her asking whether Jack would like a good night kiss. George asks for Carolyn to come back to Inverness and tells her that Norman is on his way to pick her up, to which Carolyn shortly replies that she can drive herself but George is insistent. The same night Carolyn returns to Ash Park, where she comes up to visit Elizabeth although she is shocked when she finds the door to be locked. Elizabeth comes quickly and opens the door for her, Carolyn questions why the door was so tightly locked to which Elizabeth tells her that the door will be shut from now on because she awoke to the smell of Regina's perfume in the middle of the night. Shocked Carolyn asks if Elizabeth is ok, and Elizabeth tells her that in fact she felt better after cutting Sir. Richard's hand at dinner. Carolyn asks whether Elizabeth did it on purpose to which Elizabeth tells her that of course she never planned to hurt him, implying that she did. Carolyn gets emotional and thanks Elizabeth for defending her.

## Personality

Unlike her sister in law Regina Bligh, Carolyn was kind and charming toward those around, despite a strict upbringing, Carolyn was always rebellious and she became the black sheep of the family, a role she embraced throughout her adult life. This role made Carolyn more fun-loving and carefree than most of the other Blighs. After moving from Inverness to Sydney, Carolyn became a thoroughly modern woman who adored fines arts, theatre and music; Carolyn attended all the best parties in Sydney and was a known socialite who partied the night away. Also, Carolyn was very accepting especially toward homosexuality as her modern views saw that all people were equal and should be accepted for who they are. Her acceptance can be seen when she learnt of James's homosexuality and told George angrily that James should not be forced to undergo treatment, as being a homosexual is not a disease. Carolyn was also very sad due to the fact that at a young age she was forced to give up her illegitimate daughter Anna Poletti to avoid the scandal toward her family's name. For almost a decade, Carolyn was estranged from her mother, Elizabeth Bligh, and due to the pregnancy, Elizabeth often treated Carolyn very badly with her, even going so far as to say that Carolyn would have provided Anna with odd clothing due to Carolyn's modern tastes.

## Relationships

### Jack Duncan

Carolyn's True Love

When Carolyn was a young women, she and Jack were romantically involved, and were in love, but when Carolyn fell pregnant with Jack's baby, she was worried that if Elizabeth found that it was Jack's child, then his career as a doctor would be over. This fear led to Carolyn breaking her relationship with Jack and leaving Inverness. However, 20 years later, Carolyn returns to Inverness where she and Jack begin to bond over their daughter Anna. This bonding leads to them having a romantic relationship once more, yet their love for each other was much stronger than before as the two loved each other so deeply that Jack stood by Carolyn when she faced scandal and then Carolyn stood by Jack when he faced legal issues. The two loved each other more than anything else in the world.

### Anna Poletti

Carolyn's Daughter, Very Close Relationship

Anna grew up thinking that Carolyn was her aunt and that she was her niece however when Anna was twenty years old Carolyn tells Anna that's he is her mother, however even though Carolyn is worried that Anna will hate her Anna tells Carolyn that she loves her as a mother even more now. Even while Anna thought that Carolyn was her aunt she always confided her secrets and her feelings to Carolyn, and this relationship was only strengthened when Anna found Carolyn was her mother.

### Regina Bligh

Sister In law, Enemies

Carolyn and Regina share a harsh and cold relationship. The two always argue and they always cause tension in Ash Park. The two also come to blows because Regina is very anti-semitic and this causes arguments because Carolyn is close friends with Sarah Adams, who is a Jewish woman. Carolyn was also angry with George when he decided to marry Regina in a bid to create a better image for his political campaign, and when Regina then gloats to Carolyn that she has won, Carolyn tells Regina to go to hell.

### George Bligh

Carolyn's Brother, Close Relationship

When Carolyn fell pregnant with Jack's baby and she made a deal with George because he promised that he and Elaine would raise the baby as their own Carolyn was eternally grateful. This makes their relationship so strong that when Regina Bligh uncovers Sarah Adams first husband is really alive and George is heartbroken that he turns to Carolyn for comfort and support. George and Carolyn are always kind to each other and although they come to trouble over George always being so kind toward Regina, the two are very loving toward each other.

## Trivia

* Carolyn owns an apartment in Sydney
* Carolyn was raped by Sir. Richard
* Carolyn is the mother of Anna Poletti
* Carolyn is Elaine Bligh's sister in law, Carolyn is the sister of George Bligh
* Carolyn grew up at Ash Park
* Carolyn is portrayed by Sara Wiseman