Outside the Waterhole
Gaby and Annalise are lying on the ground, having been flung there by the explosion. They begin to get up and dust themselves off. Gaby asks Annalise in horror what happened. Annalise says she doesn't know. Gaby realises her dad and Lou were inside, but Annalise says she told them to leave - but Brad and Beth were still in there. The two of them begin to become hysterical. Gaby hands Annalise her mobile 'phone and tells her to call the fire brigade and ambulance. She then starts running towards the burning Waterhole.

Waterhole
The building is on fire. Fallen timber is lying everywhere. Gaby starts yelling for Brad, who begins to cough. Beth is lying a few yards away from him and Brad tells her not to panic.

No. 28
Pam is sitting on the couch when the 'phone starts to ring. She answers it and Gaby comes on and tells her tearfully that there's been an explosion at the Waterhole - and Brad's still inside... A look of horror crosses Pam's face. Gaby adds that Beth's in there too. She asks if Doug's home yet, but Pam replies that he isn't. Gaby sobs that they think he might still be inside with Lou - although they're not sure... Pam says she's coming straight over. She hangs up.

Waterhole
Brad is trapped under a pile of timbers. He starts trying to struggle free, but Beth warns him that maybe he shouldn't try and move anything. Brad keeps struggling, though - causing another timber to fall on Beth. She lets out a scream. Brad tells her that help will be there soon - she just needs to stay calm. He then asks her if anyone was up in the bar. Beth tells her that Lou and his dad were about to go - and she suddenly remembers that Stephen was up there, waiting for her. The two of them start yelling for Stephen.

Up in the bar, Stephen is lying under a pile of wood and rubble, not moving. Sirens can suddenly be heard approaching outside.

No. 28
There's a rapid knocking on the front door at No. 28 and Pam opens it to Lauren. She asks her urgently if Lou has come back yet, but Lauren replies that there's still no sign of him. Pam sighs that she didn't want to tell Lauren over the 'phone, but there's been an accident: an explosion at the Waterhole. She adds that they know Brad's inside, and possibly Doug and Lou. Lauren's eyes open wide in horror. Pam goes on that she's heading over there now. The two of them dash out.

Outside the Waterhole
Philip is standing with Gaby and Annalise, saying it couldn't have been a *bomb*, could it? Gaby sobs that the Fire Chief reckons it looks like a gas leak. Philip asks if he said anything about the damage. Gaby cries:

GABY: The back wall of the building's completely blown away. I'm not sure about anything else.

Philip tries to approach the building, but the Fire Chief tells him to keep well back. Philip asks how bad it is in there. The Fire Chief replies that the laundry and the plant room area are a demolition job; he'd say that's where it blew. Gaby asks him tearfully if they've found Brad or her father. The Fire Chief says they haven't yet - but they're doing their best. At that moment, two paramedics emerge from the building, carrying someone on a stretcher. Gaby stares at the person lying on it and cries fearfully:

GABY: Stephen...

She cries at one of the fire officers:

GABY: Have you found Brad or my father?
FIRE OFFICER: Look, we can hear shouting from out back - a man and a woman.

Gaby murmurs that it's Brad and Beth. She then sobs:

GABY: Where's dad...?

A few feet away, Annalise turns and walks off, looking devastated at what's happened.

Waterhole
Still trapped under the timbers, Brad smiles at Beth:

BRAD: Hey, do you reckon we'll make the papers? Or maybe the news on TV?! They might want to interview us.
BETH (angrily): We've got to get out of here *alive* first.
BRAD: Of course we will.

Another timber falls on Beth and she lets out another scream, yelling that the whole thing's going to collapse on them and they'll be buried alive. They suddenly hear a male voice calling out and Brad yells back that there are two of them down there. Beth yells that they're trapped. Two fire officers step into the room carefully and one of them asks if anyone's badly hurt. Brad replies that he thinks they're OK. The fire officer says they'll get to them as soon as they make sure everything's stable.

No. 30
Phoebe is sitting watching TV when the programme is interrupted by dramatic- sounding music and a newsreader comes on and says:

NEWSREADER: Good evening. A large explosion has ripped through Lassiter's Hotel in the heart of Erinsborough. Preliminary reports do not rule out the possibility of a bomb. Several people are believed trapped in the wreckage. We'll bring you live coverage as soon as it's to hand.

Phoebe stares at the TV in horror. She then murmurs:

PHOEBE: Stephen...

Waterhole
The firemen and paramedics are moving Brad and Beth. A paramedic asks Beth if she's got any feeling in her legs. She tells him:

BETH: Just pins and needles.

The paramedic glances at one of the fire officers. Beth asks if everything's OK. The paramedic tells her to just relax. Brad calls over:

BRAD: Hey, Beth - I guess this proves my birthday jinx is no joke, eh?

The paramedic puts a collar round Beth's neck. A fire officer tells everyone that when they're ready, they get out of there - fast.

Hungry Bite
Philip is serving tea to some people who were caught up outside the Waterhole. Pam and Lauren come running in and ask where Doug and Lou are. Gaby comes in and gives her mother a hug. Philip tells everyone:

PHILIP: Brad and Beth are still trapped, but we know they're OK.
PAM: Oh thank God. So they're not seriously hurt?
PHILIP: Well, we're not really sure - but they're in good hands: they're with the paramedics now.

Pam goes to run off to see them, but Philip stops her, telling her they won't let her go down there; it's too dangerous; the fire brigade have got it under control. Pam asks if *anyone* was seriously hurt. Philip tells her that Stephen was taken to hospital - he was in the bar when it happened; he doesn't know how serious it is yet. Lauren asks nervously:

LAUREN: What about my dad?
GABY (hesitantly): Well... they can't find any sign of him *or* dad. But you might as well know that most of the ceiling collapsed into the bar.
PHILIP: That's where they were last seen.
PAM (fearfully): So they could be trapped too...?

At that moment, the Fire Chief comes in and tells Philip that it might be a good idea to evacuate all the hotel rooms nearest the bar, as it's going to take them some time to secure the site. Philip asks Gaby to get onto it and she heads over to the 'phone. Philip then asks the Fire Chief how the situation's shaping up. The Fire Chief tells him that the back section's still unstable, so they're not taking any chances.

Hungry Bite
A short time later, Philip tells Pam and Lauren that the fire crew's worried about the extent of the structural damage; and there was some doubt at first as to how badly Beth's been injured - but she'll be OK, as far as they can tell. Lauren asks:

LAUREN: And Brad?
PHILIP: Look, it's hard to say at the moment. You know how it can be.

Behind the counter, Gaby hangs up the 'phone and says there's no reply from Phoebe. She joins the others as Pam remarks:

PAM: At least they're not in any pain and they're conscious; that's a good sign.

The shop door opens suddenly and Phoebe comes in, asking in concern:

PHOEBE: Where's Stephen?
PAM (relieved): Oh, Phoebe...
PHILIP: He's been taken to hospital.
PHOEBE: What's happened to him?
PHILIP (gently): Phoeb, I think you'd better sit down...

Waterhole
Brad has been loaded onto a stretcher, but as the paramedics lift him up he tells them tersely that he's not going anywhere until they get Beth out of there. One of the paramedics just assures him that they'll get her out of there; the last thing they need now is a hero. The two of them carry him out. Another paramedic continues working on Beth...

Hungry Bite
Philip is talking on the 'phone, saying angrily:

PHILIP: I don't care how much it'll cost. I don't care what it'll *take*. I just want it *done*, John. Would you just *do* it? Thank you.

He slams the 'phone down. Over at one of the tables, Pam is muttering to Lauren about how it's typical Doug: if he'd come straight home when the pub closed... but no, he had to slip around on the off- chance that Brad would give him a sly one for the road. Lauren sobs that *her* dad's just as bad. She adds through her tears:

LAUREN: If they were OK, they'd be calling out, wouldn't they? Someone would've heard *something*.
PAM: Oh come on, love, we can't give up now.

At that moment, the shop door opens and Doug walks in, telling Pam that he's been *looking* for her. Pam gasps:

PAM: *You've* been looking for *me*? Where the hell have you been?

Lauren asks Doug tearfully where her dad is. Doug assures her that, as far as he knows, Lou's tucked up safe in bed; they went to get a hamburger to soak up some of the alcohol. Pam cries at him that she thought he was still in the Waterhole when it went up. Doug says he heard the news on the radio: they said someone was trapped. Pam nods that it's Brad and Beth - they were in the plant room. Doug goes to rush out to see what's going on, but Philip stops him, assuring him that everything's under control: they should let the experts get on with it. Over on the 'phone, Lauren has got through to Lou and she sighs:

LAUREN: Oh, thank God.

Waterhole
Beth looks in a bad way. She's been placed onto a stretcher, but she groans and coughs as the paramedics lift her up and carry her out.

Hungry Bite
Laruen sits down at a table behind where Pam, Doug and Philip are sitting. Pam says to Philip:

PAM: What do you think set it off?
PHILIP (shrugs): The laundry heating system at the back of the Waterhole has a pilot light. It *could've* set it off if the build- up of gas was big enough.
PAM: You'd think someone would've *smelt* it...

The shop door opens and Gaby comes in. Seeing Doug sitting there, she runs to him and gives him a huge hug of relief. She then tells Philip that she's organised for as many guests as possible to be moved to the other side of the hotel; the rest have been placed with Parkside Pacific. Pam asks in concern what's taking so long with Brad and Beth... Lauren looks equally concerned. She gets up and walks out.

Outside the Waterhole
Lauren watches as the paramedics carry Beth out on a stretcher. She pushes past some police officers and runs towards the ambulance.

Hungry Bite
The Fire Chief comes in and tells Philip that they've got Brad and Beth out. He turns to Pam and Doug and adds that their son's in the ambulance now, if they want a word. The two of them dash out, leaving Philip to ask about Beth. The Fire Chief replies:

FIRE CHIEF: Look, I can't be sure, but, er, well, it looks like spinal damage.

He heads out again, leaving Philip looking worried.

Outside the Waterhole
Lauren approaches the ambulance - but then stops in her tracks. Pam, Doug and Gaby all run past her. Lauren stares at them and then turns and walks away.

Erinsborough Hospital
Phoebe is walking along a corridor with a nurse, who's telling her that Stephen's still unconscious; they've done the x- rays and the House Surgeon's having a look at the scans now. Phoebe asks if he'll be all right. The nurse replies that they'll know more when the doctors have finished looking at all the tests. They reach Stephen's bed. Stephen is lying on his side, bandages covering his left forearm and on his forehead, and there are various tubes everywhere. Phoebe stares at him.

Outside the Waterhole
The next morning, Philip is standing outside the Waterhole with Gaby, who comments that it looks even worse in daylight. Philip tells her:

PHILIP: According to the fire report, the gas had been building up for quite some time.
GABY: I haven't had a chance to read it properly...

She then tells Philip that he should go home and get some rest. Philip replies that he'll go and have a shower as soon as he can, but there's so much to do. Gaby remarks:

GABY: You know, surely *somebody* must have noticed a smell of gas? I know I keep coming back to it, but it's really bothering me.
PHILIP: Yeah, I feel the same. I finally managed to hold of Paul. He wants a full report, of course.
GABY: I'll fax him everything as soon as I get it together.
PHILIP: Has anyone heard anything about Stephen?
GABY: No. I'll 'phone the hospital from the office.
PHILIP: Thanks, Gaby - you're a huge help.

Erinsborough Hospital
Brad is sitting with Phoebe in a corridor. She's crying that she just can't get any sense out of *anyone*; why won't they tell her how Stephen *is*? She adds sadly that they were arguing before it happened; it's really serious, she *knows* it... Brad assures her that he'll be all right - it's just hospitals: they always make you think the worst. Lauren approaches them suddenly and Brad asks her what she's doing there. Lauren smiles that she rang earlier and they said he was all right to come home - so she thought she'd give him a lift. Brad thanks her, but asks if she minds hanging around for a bit, as he wants to see if Beth's all right. Looking slightly annoyed, Lauren tells Brad that she thinks he should come home and get some rest, but Brad insists:

BRAD: Not until I know she's OK.
LAUREN: Well, we can come back later and check on her.
BRAD (tersely): She's still a friend, all right?
LAUREN (coolly): Yeah, sure she is.
BRAD: Yeah, so I still care about her - and I don't see anyone *else* being here for her.
LAUREN (mutters): Seems to me that you care more about Beth than you do about *me*.

Phoebe cries at them to stop it. They ignore her.

BRAD: The way I feel about Beth, that's *different*.
LAUREN: I'm starting to *wonder* about that.
PHOEBE: You two—
BRAD: Yeah, well, I'm staying.
LAUREN: Why? It's not as if she's going to *die*.

Phoebe yells at them suddenly:

PHOEBE: Just shut up...

No. 28
Doug emerges from the bedroom area, looking the worse for wear! Pam tells him that Brad has been given the all- clear from the hospital - but he's waiting there for Beth. Doug sits down at the table - and Pam does the same, saying firmly as she does so:

PAM: Now, Doug, how come you didn't get around to paying the workers yesterday?
DOUG: We were late coming back from the races, weren't we? I couldn't catch up with all of them.
PAM: I happen to know that you didn't catch up with a *single one*... I 'phoned Neville.
DOUG: Neville...?
PAM: Yes - and he said you've been giving the guys all sorts of excuses for paying them late.

She then takes out the betting slips that fell out of Doug's jacket last night, saying as she does so:

PAM: As we were at the races yesterday, forgive me if I appear to jump to conclusions.

Doug just snaps at her not to worry about it: everyone will be paid today, without fail.

Erinsborough Hospital
Stephen is still unconscious. A doctor is telling Phoebe that he knows it must seem like they're being overly cautious about making a diagnosis, but the fact is that they just have to wait and see: the CT scan reveals fairly extensive cerebral oedema in the temporal lobe - essentially, that means swelling in the brain, at the base of the head. Phoebe asks in concern if it means permanent damage. The doctor replies that they won't know until they're able to get the swelling to subside. Phoebe says haltingly:

PHOEBE: The other doctor... The other doctor said he might be paralysed.
DOCTOR: That's only a possibility; there's no point dwelling on it. He could just as easily have no problems at all. We'll assess the situation when he regains consciousness.
PHOEBE: He *will* regain consciousness?
DOCTOR: There's nothing to suspect he won't.
PHOEBE: But you're not making any promises?
DOCTOR: We can never be completely sure; but like I said, Mrs. Gottlieb, there is nothing to be gained by thinking the worst.

With that, the doctor walks off, leaving a worried Phoebe staring at the unconscious Stephen.

No. 28
Brad hands Lauren a bottle of water. As she takes it, she apologises for the way she behaved; it was only because she was so worried and so stressed out while he was down in the plant room; she just wanted them to spend some time together alone and she guesses seeing him with Beth made her jealous. Brad insists that he and Beth are just good friends, and Lauren's going to have to learn to live with that because they'll *always* be friends. Lauren murmurs that she's sorry.

No. 26
Annalise opens the front door to Philip. As he steps inside, she asks him what's going to happen to the Waterhole. Philip replies that he may set up one of the convention rooms as a temporary bar - but he hasn't had much time to think about it yet. Annalise asks him if he's had any news on Brad, Beth or Stephen. Philip tells her that they've all been discharged except for Stephen. He adds:

PHILIP: I guess we're lucky *more* people weren't hurt. If the explosion had happened *before* closing time...
ANNALISE (looking worried): Oh, don't!

The two of them sit down and Philip comments to Annalise that it's a good thing *she* wasn't there. He goes on:

PHILIP: According to the fire reports, the gas had been leaking for several days.
ANNALISE (shrugs): Oh yeah, how you mention it, I think maybe I *did* smell something.
PHILIP: Why didn't you report it?
ANNALISE: I did. I tried to tell Gaby but things sort of got out of hand: she was on at me about something else. I guess I just forgot.

Philip stares at her. She adds:

ANNALISE: Well, I tried to tell Maintenance, but I just got tied- up at the bar.
PHILIP (tersely): So you actually noticed it, but you didn't tell anyone?
ANNALISE: Yeah, I did. I told Brad.
PHILIP: What did Brad say?
ANNALISE (sheepishly): He told me to report it to Gaby...
PHILIP: And you didn't. Something as serious as a gas leak should've been attended to *immediately*. Telling Brad wasn't enough.
ANNALISE: Well *he's* the *manager* - *he* should've reported it.
PHILIP (furiously): You just said he told *you* to report it. Stephen is lying there in hospital... it's sheer good luck that no one was killed... I'm sorry, Annalise, but under these circumstances, I have to dismiss you.

With that, Philip storms out, leaving Annalise looking guilty and upset.

Erinsborough Hospital
Stephen starts to stir as Phoebe sits with him. He murmurs:

STEPHEN: Is this a hospital?
PHOEBE: Yeah! You were in the explosion, remember? You've had a really serious bump to your head. How do you feel?
STEPHEN: OK. My head hurts.

Phoebe stares at him in concern.