No.24
Lou wants to talk about the baby.

CHERYL: Are you sure you really want it?
LOU:(firmly) Yes! But not if having it puts you at risk, you're far too important to me.
CHERYL: I'm fine, I'm as healthy as a horse, Louis, but maybe the baby isn't.
LOU: Well, stop worrying on your own and tell me.
CHERYL: When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought, well, this will be just fine...it'll be so straightforward, all my other kids were...but I forgot, I'm older now and there are just so many things that can go wrong.
LOU: Like what?
CHERYL: Like Down's Syndrome. Do you know the odds are ten times higher than they are for somebody as young as Gaby?
LOU: Yeah, yeah, that would be a lot deal with...
CHERYL: And it's not just Down's Syndrome, there are so many other possible problems.
LOU: Oi! Don't put the cart before the horse! Now, there's ways of telling, isn't there?
CHERYL: There's tests I suppose.
LOU: You haven't asked?! Well, I'm going to call the doctor right now and see what he says! Cheryl, Cheryl, listen to me, sweetheart. I love you, whichever way this goes, we are in it together, OK?

Cheryl smiles, pleased.

Lassiter's Lake
Apparently Stonefish had to be helped away by Sassy. Brett is not impressed with Michael, saying he didn't need help. He reckons that he and Stonefish could have been friends when Michael butted in.

BRETT: How many times have I told you, Michael, that I don't believe in fighting?! Which right now, is lucky for you!

The Office
Gaby is very busy in work today. Mark rushes in and tells Gaby that his kitchen hand hasn't turned up. She tells him to calm down and suggests he gets some of the local kids they have on the list for short term work - like Danni Stark.

Pub
Cheryl and Lou have been to the pub and Cheryl is 3 and a half months pregnant. This means that she will need amniocentesis to confirm Down's Syndrome (either way) Cheryl isn't sure about it - there's a chance of miscarriage. She starts to cry and says she doesn't want to hurt the baby. Lou assures her that he'll back her on whatever she decides and suggests she has a chat to Pam. She's not ready to talk outside the family yet, but says she does need to talk to Brett and Danni.

No.24
Lou and Cheryl are trying to get Brett and Danni's full attention. Danni is on the phone to Gaby and says she'll be there soon for work!

Brett's bedroom
Brett tells Danni about the situation with Stonfish and Michael. Brett feels everyone thinks he's wimp. Danni says he's fine as he is.

Newsagency
Phil is angry that Michael has punched Stonefish. Michael tries to explain that he was trying to help Brett, then stalks off.

House the Doug is renovating
Michael is helping Doug renovate the house, but he is very distracted.

No.24
Cheryl has broken the news to Brett and Danni about the baby (apparently it wasn't deemed dramatic enough that we should actually see the announcement!)

Danni and Brett are a bit shocked. Cheryl says she's phone Janine and Darren too.

DANNI: I can't believe you're telling us this.
LOU: Well, your mother and I think this is something that affects all of us, and we'd like to give you the chance to say what you think.
BRETT: Well...if it's a baby you guys wants, then it's OK with me.
CHERYL: But how do you feel about it *personally*? I mean, what do you think?
BRETT: I don't see it as any of our business.
DANNI: Of *course* it's our business! Who do you think's going to have to put up with the kid while it's screaming and yelling at all hours of the day and night?! And try to sit at the same table while it's puking everywhere and grossing everyone out!
LOU: I don't think it's going to be *that* bad, Danni! And believe it or not, even you were a baby once!
DANNI: I didn't inflict myself on other teenage brothers and sisters! I just don't believe this! Why didn't you talk it over with us, you could at least have done it before you went and...you know! I didn't even know people your age even did this sort of thing! I don't want to talk about it!

She runs off, in a childish strop.

Lassiter's Kitchen
Danni has arrived for work and is banging away with the knife loudly. The black tie do is in full swing. Mark tells Gaby it's all under control.

House that Doug is renovating
Phil has come to pick Michael up from work. He is hostile and doesn't want to talk.

No.24
Sassy pops round to see Brett.

CHERYL: Look, I don't usually interfere with my kids' friendships...
SASSY: Yeah, well don't now, OK?

She goes off to Brett's room.

Brett's bedroom
Sassy creeps in and surprises Brett. She gives him some flowers. He is not at all pleased to see her, but she says she's come to say sorry about Stonie. He shouts at her to go away and she ignores him.

BRETT:(into his pillow) GO AWAY!!! JUST GO AWAY!! GO AWAY!!!!!

He continues screaming until she finally goes.

No.24 (Kitchen)
Later, Brett creeps out and Cheryl tells him that Sassy has gone. He goes to throw away the flowers, but Cheryl says there's no point wasting them.

BRETT: What is it with women? The girls you like don't like you back, and the ones you can't stand won't leave you alone!

Cheryl says that Lou didn't like her at first, but he came around eventually. But Sassy will probably meet someone else in a few days.

They talk about the baby and Brett says he's happy enough about it.

BRETT: It's cool. And I'll do what I can to hose Danni down. I just want you to be happy. And, from all that you've had to deal with with us, I think you deserve it.

Cheryl is crying.

CHERYL: How long is it since I told you that you're a legend?
BRETT: Yeah, well, I guess you're a bit of legend too, Mum! Don't tell anyone I said that, because it just wouldn't be cool.

Lassiter's Kitchen
Everything has gone well with the black tie do. Mark thanks Danni for working with him tonight and offers her a lift home.

No.24
Danni invites Mark in for a coffee, but he heads off home. It's late, and Brett is waiting up for Danni.

DANNI: Hey, Brett, what are you still doing up this late?
BRETT: I was too teed off to sleep.
DANNI: Why? Oh...yeah. All this about Mum and the pregnancy, doesn't it just totally gross you out?
BRETT: No, what totally grossed me out was the way you carried on.
DANNI: Me?!
BRETT: Walking out on her like that. You've really hurt her.
DANNI: Oh, Brett, give me a break. She probably didn't even notice she was so wound up in the baby!
BRETT: She noticed. Look, what's your problem? OK, you're worried that we're going to get pushed to the side when it arrives, but it doesn't mean Mum's going to stop loving us!
DANNI: Oh, Brett, shut up! I don't want to hear about when it arrives! Look, I can't believe she's seriously going to go through with this. The whole idea is just too gross to even think about. Night.

School, the following morning
Rupert Sprod offers to help Brett form an Erinsborough vs West Waratah gang against Stonefish(!) Brett says that they have to get along with the Waratah kids sooner or later, so they might as well start now. Rupert thinks this over and end up agreeing with Brett(!)

No.28
Michael doesn't really want to see Stonefish at school today. Doug says it probably won't be that bad. He advises Michael to mend fences with Phil though - he didn't get on very well with his own father and regrets it now. Michael allows that sometimes people can die suddenly - like his mother - so it's a good idea to be on good terms. Michael doesn't think there's any point trying with Phil though.

The Office
Mark is off to his interview for the competition. Gaby says they'll be impressed by his charity fundraising.

No.24
Cheryl comes out of her room and turns the china pig around, so that he doesn't witness a row(!)

CHERYL: Presume you're not going to school this morning?
DANNI: Never knew it was *this* bad! Says here that it's most likely to be handicapped.
CHERYL: Not most likely, just that at my age there's a bit more of a chance.
DANNI: A bit?! That's not what it says here.
CHERYL: Well, alright, yes, it's a significant possibility, but it's still only a possibility.
DANNI:(angrily) It's bad enough you're even *considering* dumping a baby on us, but a retard?! You've got to be joking, you *are* joking, right?! You're going to get rid of it!

Cheryl slaps Danni across the face.