Number 26
Rachel can't believe that Stingray still wants to be with her. She knows he's spent quite a lot of time with other girls lately, and she's not sure what that means. He tells her he was confused; the whole world was telling him that his feelings for her were wrong, and he didn't know what to do.

Rachel affirms that she, too, loves him. She asks what they do now, and he tells her that in a chick flick there would probably be a kiss or something.

RACHEL: I didn't know you were into chick flicks.
SCOTT: I'm complex.

Dylan runs in and asks what's going on; they tell him they're talking about homework. Rachel leaves, and Dylan goes to the kitchen.

The Scarlet Bar
Susan and Lyn are sitting, chatting, and Susan can't believe that Cameron did all those things; she comments that Paul is devastated. Lyn says it's a good thing that he has Isabelle to support him and Susan makes a face. She suggests that Lyn would rather be the one to support him, but Lyn denies it - they're just business colleagues.

SUSAN: Oh, you do so like him. Has something happened?
LYN: Nothing's happened, nothing's going to happen.
SUSAN: I get it. Denial.
LYN: Oh great. Coming from Miss I Think I Might Be In Love With Karl Again.
SUSAN: Now you're just changing the subject.

Susan tells Lyn that she was confused about Karl. When she saw him with Zeke, and then singing to those kids, she mistook all the feelings of nostalgia about raising their kids with feelings about something else.

LYN: Something else like *love.*
SUSAN: Yes.

Karl arrives at the bar and comments on their girls' night out - all the secrets are on the table, are they? Lyn enquires after Karl's long distance relationship with Jenny, and he's enjoying it, because it means every moment they spend together is precious. Karl leaves them to it.

Lyn knows it's not nostalgia between Karl and Susan and Susan asks who she's trying to kid - she doesn't know what she feels.

I loved the music in this scene; really beautiful. I hope we get more of it.

Number 24
Sky gets up and she and Lou talk about Mishka - they both enjoy having her around the house. She steals his toast on the way out.

She passes Harold, who has something he needs to talk to Lou about urgently - he's just seen Mishka drinking outside - at this time of the morning. Lou dismisses it as a European thing.

LOU: They love a tipple before breakfast. It's almost mandatory.

Harry thinks it's more serious than that - she Mishka was drinking the cleaning fluid. Harry resolves to help Mishka in any way he can - he will help her fight the addiction. Lou says he thinks the situation's best left in his hands, but Harry pledges his support if Lou needs it.

Erinsborough High
Some guys catch Rachel as they go down the corridor and comment that they know about her date with Garret - he told them all about how he got to third base with Kinky Kinski.

Rachel spots Garret and asks him what he told his friends; he tells her that he told them what they got up to last night. And he sneers as he does so.

The Scarlet Bar
Dylan tells Scott that he's been trying to find Kim, but with no luck. But Scott's thinking about Rachel - he doesn't understand why she loves him. Scott tells his brother that it will work between them - he's capable of following his feelings and listening to his heart.

Sky comes in and Dylan walks out. Sky tells Scott she wants to convince Dylan to give her another shot, and she needs Stingray's help - what were Dylan's dreams when he was younger? He tells her that she knows him best, so just do what will make him happy.

Sky leaves and passes Rachel who's on her way in to see Scott. She bursts into tears on his shoulder.

The General Store
Karl comes in to collect a parcel from Lou, so Harry tells him that he's pre-occupied with Mishka. Cut to Mish and Lou in the kitchen who are trying to work out how to stop Harold believing she's drinking cleaning fluid.

MISHKA: He really thinks I alcoholic? So desperate for booze I drink stain remover?

She says she has to drink because she can't have cigarettes. Mishka promises to hide it from Harold in future, but thinks that he needs to get a life.

The Scarlet Bar
Rachel is still upset and Scott says he'd hug her if they weren't in public. Rachel can' t believe he's worried what people will think, so he hugs her anyway.

The General Store
Lou tells Harry that he's had a word with Mishka about her problem, and Harry thinks that's great. Lou tells him that they've agreed to work on it together, and goes to wash the dishes. Harry approaches Mishka and tells her he's pleased she's going to resolve things, but that she shouldn't put herself in the path of temptation.

So takes a bottle of vodka from her.

Lyn sees Karl sitting alone and invites herself to join him. Karl looks rather put out. She tries to get info from Karl about his relationship with Jenny, commenting that the engagement happened fast. Karl thinks she's being a little nosy, so she backs off. But:

LYN: The thing is, Karl, that there is something else that you need to consider.
KARL: Sounds ominous.
LYN: Yes, and no.

Susan appears and stands by Karl.

SUSAN: (daggers at Lyn) Hi.

Susan excuses herself and Lyn - she needs to speak to her outside, now.

Erinsborough High
Zeke is defending Rachel to Garret and his mates, before telling Rachel she shouldn't have to put up with it. Susan and Lyn come into the corridor and Susan tells the boys to go to their class.

Lyn follows Susan to the classroom, trying to apologise. She tells Susan that Karl doesn't have a clue about how she feels. Susan is more upset that Lyn was about to betray a major confidence of hers.

LYN: Come on, forgive me.
SUSAN: Well, yeah, but only just.

Lyn tells Susie she doesn't want her to miss the boat, but Susan retorts that it's up to her to deal with her feelings for her ex-husband. As Susan and Lyn walk away, Scott arrives, and sees Rachel - then sees Garret. Scott grabs him by his collar and forces him to apologise and tell his mates the truth. Scott lets him go, and Garret comments that he can't pick up a chick his own age. Scott punches him in the face - and Susan witnesses it, telling Scott to go to the classroom.

In the classroom Susan tells Scott that Garret's parents will probably charge him for assault, and if Rachel had a problem she should have talked to her about it. She thinks this makes Scott seem very immature. Susan gives Stingray an ultimatum - he ends this crush on Rachel right now or he loses Susan's support forever.

Rachel overhears everything, and Garret approaches her. He apologises to her face, and she tells him that she never wants him to speak to her again.

Ramsay Street
Karl catches up with Dylan and they make small talk about the band. Dylan - tongue in cheek - makes comments about how quickly kids grow up, and what is the band going to do when the 3 and 4 year olds reach the age of 5? They're a whole different ballgame. Karl takes him very seriously - they'll have to give their market some real thought.

Karl appears to be making his way to Susan's, and carries on. Sky drives up in a hired car which Dylan immediately falls in love with. She asks him if he wants to go for a drive, and he does - he'd love to.

General Store kitchen
Mishka wearily tells Lou that he must do something about Sticky Blood, who's been going on at her for hours about the happiness of abstinence. Lou replies that Harold means well, but she objects that he's driving her to drink, and their vodka is too nice to hide. It should be drunk with friends, laughing & crying together, not alone like little criminals.

Thus it is that Harold comes in, and is utterly horrified to catch Lou as well as Mishka imbibing the OLD 997 cleaning fluid.

HAROLD: Oh no. Oh no, this can't be!
LOU: Errr... this isn't what it looks like, mate.
HAROLD: Ah, you see the lies, they're starting already! Oh Lou, this is a sad day, a very sad day!

Lou manages to explain that it's not actually cleaning fluid, but merely some vodka which they've distilled according to a traditional recipe of Mishka's - which makes Harold inquire where have they been concocting this rotgut?

LOU: ...

Lou's silence speaks volumes, leading poor Harold to realise that he & Mishka have been distilling & distributing illegal alcohol on the premises!

MISHKA: You make it sound bad.
HAROLD: Well, it *is* bad! I mean, you not only use my home as your own, you then make a mockery of everything I believe in by making this, this... hooch!

Catching himself, Harold lowers his voice.

HAROLD: We could all be arrested.
LOU: Oh, come on. This will all sort itself out.
HAROLD: No... no Lou, I don't believe it can be.

Harold reminds Lou and Mishka that he's going on tour next week with the Salvation Army band, so grimly warns them that by the time he gets back, he wants the two of them to be out of his house.

LOU (bursting with sudden anger): Oh, steady on! Where are we supposed to go?
HAROLD: Well, that is no longer my concern! Whereas you've got a fortnight to figure it out.

And with that, Harold exits the kitchen, leaving Mishka to offer Lou a glass of their fake Russian own-brand vodka.

MISHKA: Drink?
LOU: Oh, I don't think so, no.

Mishka sadly nods that all is lost.

A Park, somewhere
Dylan pulls up by the lake - he loves the car very very much. Sky tells him she's missed his smile, and he tells her he can't do this - he can't have fun with her when he remembers what she did.

She knows that, and she was trying to find a way back to how they used to be. Dylan reminds her that it's over.

Number 26
Scott answers the door to Rachel, and immediately starts to apologise. But Rachel isn't mad - she was really touched. She loves him and doesn't want him taking any more risks. He leans in and kisses her. They walk hand in hand to the sofa, and decide to keep their love secret. If no-one knows, they can't break them up.

Number 24
Lou is pouring the vodka away, but Mishka suggests they make a new batch when Harold goes away. Lou doesn't like that idea - Harold is his very best friend. He decides to go and clean the pool to get back in Harry's good books. Mishka packs up the vodka and hides it away.

Sky comes in and slumps onto the sofa. She tells Mishka that she's lost the love of her life, and knows she has to move on. Mishka tells her she has other things in front of her, in her life.

Sky says she can't wait to get over the flu. She's tired, nauseous. Oh, and there are smells that make her want to be sick. Mishka gets a look on her face - she thinks that Sky is pregnant.