No.28
Gaby is beside herself with worry.
GABY: It's my own fault for leaving him with Dad, I must have had rocks in my head!
DOUG: I only left him for a few minutes at the most!
GABY: How could you leave him at all, that's what I don't understand!
PAM: Gaby...
GABY: No, Mum! He was supposed to be looking after him!
DOUG: What can I say, love, I'm sorry!
GABY: Not half as sorry as I am.
She glares at him.
The policeman comes in through the back door, having been talking to the neighbours.
POLICEMAN: What about you, Mr Willis? Is there anything else you can remember?
DOUG: 'Fraid not. I wish there was.
POLICEMAN: Think back. It doesn't matter how unimportant it may seem. We can't afford to ignore any potential leads. Tell me again exactly what happened, from the beginning.
GABY: Oh!
She stomps over to the window, practically tearing her hair out.
DOUG: I just discovered the mess the dog had made in the garden. I put Zac in the shade and I was about to clean up when I heard a call from the house.
POLICEMAN: Could that have been a diversionary tactic do you think?
DOUG: I don't think so, it was the postie. Present for Zac.
POLICEMAN: Did you notice anyone else hanging around in the back yard, or over the back fence perhaps?
DOUG: Not that I could see.
POLICEMAN: Do you know who might have wanted to take the child!
GABY: Of course we do! Jack Flynn.
POLICEMAN: Who's he?
PAM: He's the baby's father.
GABY: We told your partner all of this.
POLICEMAN: Are you sure that he's responsible?
GABY: Who else could it be?! He's been hassling me all the time lately, wanting to spend more time with Zac, now why don't you get out there and start looking for him?!
POLICEMAN: We certainly investigate all leads, Miss Willis, don't worry about that.
GABY: Don't worry?! The man is a pilot for God's sake, he could have taken him anywhere by now! He might be Interstate or overseas, I might never see him again!
PAM: Oh, don't even think that way, Gaby!
POLICEMAN: Is there anything else you can tell me?
GABY: Oh, for crying out loud, his name is Jack Flynn, he stole my baby! What more do you need to know?!
No.26
Helen and Brett are talking about Zac's disappearance. Brett has told the police that he thinks he saw the car...but he can't remember anything other than it was outside the Willis house this morning. He is embarrassed that he can't remember any more than that.
Helen has run out of Dave's herbal tea, so has ordered some more. Brett goes off to look at his plants.
Garden of No.22
In the garden, Holly is digging up some plants.
No.28
CODY: This guy is an even bigger sleazebag than I thought he was!
DOUG: When they catch up with him, I hope they throw away the key!
GABY: They can do what they like with him, all I want is my baby back!
CODY: How did he get hold of Zac in the first place?
DOUG: I left him out of my sight for, what, one, two minutes at the most.
GABY: You were *supposed* to be looking after him.
DOUG: Well, who would have thought someone would lift him out of our own back yard?!
GABY: Stop making excuses, Dad, you were being slack and you know it! Now poor little Zac's paying the price. If anything happens to him, I will never forgive you!
PAM: Gaby, nothing *will* happen. The police will find him.
GABY: God, I hope so! If they don't, *you* are responsible.
DOUG: Look, love, I know you're upset...
GABY: UPSET?! That doesn't even come close to describing how I feel!
DOUG: Can't we just pull together here?
GABY: Oh, yeah, that'd suit you right down to the ground, wouldn't it? Get the pressure off you for a while. You're nothing but an irresponsible old fool! And I'm more irresponsible for trusting you!
Doug decides to go out in the ute to see if he can spot anything.
Garden of No.22
Brett finds his plants, dug up.
No.28
There's a knock at the door and Pam rushes to open it, but it's only Rick. He doesn't know anything of what's going on and has come to pick up Cody to go ice- skating. She explains about Zac being stolen.
Rick goes over and offers Gaby his condolences.
Doug arrives back, he's been to the airport and they haven't seen Jack.
Rick decides he's better leave as Gaby is so upset.
CODY: I'll stick around, just in case.
GABY: In case what? They find his body somewhere?
CODY:(shocked) No, Gaby.
Pam suggests that Cody does go out with Rick, so Gaby can have some space.
Park
Jack is sitting on a bench, cradling Zac!
JACK: I love you more than anything else in the whole world, Zac. You know that, don't you? Of course you do. You know, I'm your Dad and there's nothing anybody can do about that. I'm never going to let you go.
No.28 (back)
Doug is brooding and Pam comes out to comfort him a bit. Doug thinks Gaby hates him, but Pam says Gaby is lashing out at everyone at the moment.
DOUG: Who would have thought Jack would do a thing like that?
PAM: Gaby was pretty hard on him, don't forget.
DOUG: You're not defending the bloke, are you?
PAM: No, but we should have realised that he might try something like this.
DOUG: Well, anything that man does doesn't surprise me! I feel like such an idiot.
PAM: There's no point blaming yourself, love.
DOUG: Who else should I blame?!
PAM: Trying to work out who to point the finger at isn't going to do anybody any good! I mean, what if it had been me that she'd left him with?
DOUG: You wouldn't have left him out here alone now would you?
PAM: Well, I might have.
DOUG: No. Good try, hun. You wouldn't have left him out of your sight for a second.
Just then, Holly the dog arrives and Pam shoos her away.
No.22
Lata has come to go ice- skating, but she couldn't ask Vikram as he was at work. Brett isn't sure they should go without permission.
She is impressed by Brett's manners and tells him she really likes being with him, as she feels safe with him. They head off.
No.28
Cody and Rick arrive back, but there's still no sign of Zac. They've been to Jack's house and talk to his neighbours too, but they haven't seen them since this morning.
Gaby apologises for being so awful earlier, and she feels bad about what she said to Doug earlier.
GABY:(to Rick) I wasn't very nice to you earlier, either.
RICK:(cheerfully) Oh, hey, that's cool, why should you be any different(!)
They chuckle a bit and Gaby says they should go ice- skating. It's best she has some time on her own so she doesn't keep biting everyone's head off.
GABY: Thanks a lot, guys, you've been great. But I promised you this afternoon off when you started, so go - please.
They heads off. Poor Gaby is holding back tears.
Park
Brett and Lata are having a walk. Brett isn't having a great day and is still berating himself about missing the car details.
Just then, they walk past across Jack himself, who is still cradling Zac! Unfortunately, Brett doesn't notice them!
BRETT: Don't know what that low- life will do to Zac. Gaby must be going out of her mind!
Lata doesn't think a baby's father would harm his own child.
Ice rink
Brett and Lata are having a good time and end up falling over on the ice, laughing.
No.28
Gaby is going out of her mind. Pam wants to ring Doctor Dawson and get him to prescribe something for her.
GABY: I don't think I can go on if something's happened!
Just then, there's a knock at the door and it's Jack, holding Zac.
PAM: Zac!
Gaby rushes to the door and takes the baby.
GABY: Zac, are you OK?
JACK: Of course he's OK.
When Gaby has got Zac into her arms, Doug grabs hold of Jack.
DOUG: You bloody mongrel...
Pam tries to separate them.
JACK: What's wrong?
(!)
PAM: Do you really need to ask?!
JACK: I brought him back, didn't I?
Ice rink
Cody and Rick have arrived. Cody is still brooding about Zac and feels a bit guilty about enjoying herself with everything going on at home (she has heard that Zac is safe though). They see Brett and Lata and skate over to them.
Lata is really enjoying the skating and says she's enjoying being with Brett. They're about to kiss, but Cody and Rick come up and interrupt them.
No.28
Jack is inexplicably sitting on the sofa with Gaby(!)
JACK: For a minute there, I thought your Dad was going to flatten me.
GABY: Can you blame him? He's been through hell because of you. Words can't describe what you did to me.
JACK: Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. I mean, now, maybe you'll understand how *I* feel.
What an awful specimen of humanity.
GABY: I don't understand *anything*. What did you think you were trying to prove?
JACK: All I wanted to do was spend time with my son. Because of your ridiculous attitude, it was the only way I could do it! Don't make me out to be the villain in all of this!
GABY: You're damned lucky you're not in jail. I can still have you charged with kidnapping.
JACK: Oh, I doubt it. But I'm willing to go to court any time you are, you just say the word. Oh, Gaby, can we just *talk*, okay?
GABY: What about?
JACK: About Zac.
GABY: I haven't got time, I should have been at work hours ago.
She stands up.
JACK: You're the boss. Surely you can make your own hours.
GABY: Well, not at the moment, I can't. The new owner's got me on trial, this was the worst possible time for me to be away from the office.
JACK: So when *can* we talk?
GABY: Make an appointment with my assistant.
JACK: No, I want to settle this today. I'm not going to put this off any longer!
GABY: I *told* you, I have got to get to work!
JACK: OK, fine. I'll come too.
Pub
Doug and Pam are having a consolation drink. Doug is wishing he'd flattened Jack(!) but Pam says they have to leave it to Gaby to handle. Pam says it happens a lot with custody cases, sometimes a father will go on the rampage and kill his kids(!)
PAM: I just hope Gaby will grant Jack some kind of access.
DOUG: After what he's just done?!
PAM: I don't like it either, Doug, but he *is* Zac's father. I mean, there's nothing we can do about that! And if if stops a repeat of what happpened today, I reckon it's worth it.
No.26
Holly whines to Helen. We see Holly's perpective and she has blurred vision (although curiously is able to see in colour!) Helen decides to take her to the vet.
The Office
JACK: Gaby, I'm sorry. I really mean that. Sometimes I just don't think things through.
GABY: You're damned right, you don't.
JACK: There just didn't seem to be any other way.
GABY: Yes, well, you didn't do yourself any favours, either. You're never going to get visiting rights after a stunt like that.
JACK: I know I was an idiot, but you forced me into it. Why do you have to be so stubborn?
GABY: Oh, listen to Mr Hard Done By.
JACK: OK, I'm not proud of what I did or the way I treated you in the past. So you have every right to feel bitter.
GABY: Thanks for the permission(!)
JACK: But, things have changed. I mean, this little guy's my son...I'll be more responsible.
GABY: Oh, yeah, you proved that this morning(!)
JACK: Oh, you know what I mean!
GABY: No, I don't think I do!
The phone rings and she answers it to reception. Apparently Rosemary has called during the drama, but the receptionist (Prue) covered for Gaby.
JACK: Stop and think for a minute, Gaby, is this any way to run a business? Or raise a child?
GABY: Who do you think you *are* to come in here and tell me what to do!
JACK: Please, please, will you just let me finish?
GABY: Make it quick.
JACK: This can't be a healthy environment for Zac. The air conditioning for starters can't be good for his little lungs.
GABY: Yeah...
JACK: Apart from the health thing, what if you get an important phone call from overseas and you're in the middle of the phone call and Zac starts crying. What do you say? 'Hold on a moment, I've just got to burp my baby'?
GABY: I do what I can, OK?
JACK: What if your boss calls and Zac starts playing up, what do you tell her?
GABY: I just have to hope that doesn't happen.
JACK: And your business will suffer and you'll be a nervous wreck.
GABY: Like I said, I do what I can. Have you got any better suggestions?
JACK: Let me look after him.
GABY: No way!
JACK: Even if it's just for a few hours a day.
GABY: Forget it!
JACK: Look, you won't be doing just me a favour, you'll be doing yourself a favour as well. Gaby, you *know* you can't handle all of this on your own. Please, just *think* about it. Think about it hard.
No.26
Helen is back from the shops, and the tea she ordered has arrived.
Just then, the 3 policemen in plain clothes pop round for a word. They ask about the parcel she picked up.
POLICEMAN 1: May I see it?
HELEN: Yes, it's through here.
POLICEMAN 1: What can you tell me about this parcel?
HELEN: They're just herbs that I use to alleviate the symptoms of my glaucoma.
POLICEMAN 1: What are these herbs called, Mrs Daniels?
HELEN: I've no idea!
POLICEMAN 1: In that case, I must ask you to accompany me to the police station.
HELEN: But I can't! I have to pick up a sick dog from the...whatever for?!
POLICEMAN 1: I'm afraid I have no choice but to arrest you. I must warn you that you are not obliged to say or do anything as it may be later used in evidence against you in court.
Helen is speechless.
