The Surgery
Boyd enters Charlotte's office and wants to get all romantic, but Charlotte's not too interested - she doesn't want people to hear, and to know about them. She'd rather Boyd showed her how he feels, instead. So they kiss. Ugh.

Number 30
Pepper's leaving a message on her dad's answerphone, saying that things are great her end...she chickens out of telling him anything's wrong, and just at the moment there's someone at the door. It's Kevin. Pepper wishes he wasn't there - she's trying really hard to get over it all. But she invites him in anyway.

The Law Firm
Rosie is furious that Toadie is making her work on the day of her engagement party. Steph comes in and backs Rosie up - she shouldn't be working! So to make up for it, she invites Rosie and Frazer to hers tonight for dinner. Toadie doesn't seem too keen on the idea, but Steph says she's already invited Karl and Susan. Boyd comes out Charlotte's office and hears about dinner - and invites Charlotte along, too. Steph says it's fine, but is clearly not too happy about the arrangement...

Number 30
Kevin is telling Pepper that she's the only one he can talk to about what happened with Mary, and Pepper is not at all comfortable about it. He tries to explain why he didn't get Pepper out of the room, and why he stayed in hospital for so long, but Pepper really doesn't want to talk about it.

Kevin starts going on about how he's having bad dreams about his mum, and it's making Pep more and more distressed. But in his own need to absolve himself and to talk out his own demons, he doesn't seem to realise that Pepper's also having problems. She tells him to leave and Kevin realises she's not alright.

Frazer sees them arguing and wheels over and grabs Kevin, demanding that Pepper call the cops. Pepper yells at Frazer to let Kevin go, and he gladly leaves.

Paul's flat
Fox is about to leave to go and write some more of his novel, but Paul - who's in pain with his head - suggests that he stay. Fox realises that Paul's in pain and tells Paul to take one of his pills. Paul doesn't want to - they only mask the symptoms.

FOX: Haven't you been doing that all your life, masking the symptoms? All your women, money, wine...

Fox goes to walk out with Paul's pills, but:

PAUL: Don't go. Please.
FOX: Alright. Hate to see a dumb animal suffer.

Number 30

FRAZER: How could you let that maniac in here?
PEPPER: He's not a maniac, he's actually a really nice guy.
FRAZER: For a *stalker*!!

Pep tells Frazer that Kevin was out on bail and that he's not the bad guy. She lunges at him before sitting down angrily at the kitchen table. Frazer asks her what's wrong and she starts to cry.

That could have been a really good scene, except that Pepper pouts more than cries and unfortunately ends up looking more like Sarah Beaumont - thus making me hate her entirely.

Cut to later and we're in Pep's bedroom, with Frazer saying he had no idea about all the stuff that happened. He apologises and asks her how she managed. She replies that something forced her to stay positive, but now she keeps having nightmares about Mary every night, and when she's awake she sees her everywhere.

Pepper tells Frazer that he managed to get on with his life after the accident, and that's what she wanted to do after her ordeal. And seeing him and Rosie so happy, she didn't want to drag them down. Frazer tells her that she's too nice for her own good.

FRAZER: From now on, you come first.

The Scarlet Bar
Steph is playing on a games machine at the bar, and Toadie challenges her - if he wins, then he gets to cancel the dinner party. He doesn't want to socialise with Rosie. He also doesn't believe in Charlotte and Boyd's relationship, either. Thank goodness he didn't comment on Karl and Susie or he'd have had me jumping in there with some witty retort.

At a nearby table Charlotte suggests that they forget dinner at Steph's, and go to her apartment. But Boyd's not interested...he wants them to be seen together! At that moment Karl comes along and sees them holding hands. He introduces himself to Charlotte as her new medical supplies rep before Susan comes over and physically drags him away. Karl leaves, saying that they can talk about the medical supplies over dinner!

KARL: (nodding to Charlotte and Boyd) I think there's something going on there.
SUSAN: (well, der...) You think?

Steph wins at the games machine; Toadie is less than thrilled.

Number 30
Rosie gets home and finds Pep crying on the bed, wishing that Pepper had confided in her when the kidnapping happened. She says that Pep is suffering post-traumatic stress, and should see a counsellor. Pepper doesn't want to, she feels freaky enough as it is. Rosie says she thinks it's a good idea, and needs to get her friend sorted before the wedding - she can't have a bridesmaid who's not happy, now, can she?

Pepper is thrilled at being bridesmaid, and the friends hug.

Paul's flat
Paul is in a lot of pain, and Fox stands behind him, taunting him about his family and children. Paul looks for his keys so he can get to the hospital - it's gone too far. Fox takes Paul's keys and reminds him that he might die if the doctors slice open his brain - not that heaven would take him in if he did, anyway. He offers Paul a choice - his car keys, or his pills?

Paul takes the pills and Fox stands there looking smugger than a smug thing.

Number 32
Boyd makes a toast at the dinner party to new beginnings; it's all rather uncomfortable and quiet. Steph decides to check the lasagne. Karl asks Charlotte about a medical paper, and she replies that she's read it - it's terrible. It obviously wasn't the answer that Karl was expecting and she quickly backtracks, saying that she's away with the fairies tonight. Karl starts talking about angiogenic therapy. Susan asks what that is, and Karl says that he'll let Charlotte answer that one...but lucky for her there's someone at the door. She rushes up to answer it, and it's Rosie.

Rosie, on seeing that Charlotte has turned up at the party, decides that as Frazer can't make it she won't bother; she doesn't want to have a meal with the woman who put her sister at risk. Charlotte asks Rosie not to say anything about her past with Frazer - she doesn't want to upset Boyd, who she's now seeing.

Cut to a bit later and Karl is telling a joke about a nurse with long fingers, who did a rectal examination and concluded that there were no thyroid problems. It's quite good for Karl, but Charlotte says she doesn't find it funny, and you can cut the tension around the table with a knife.

Steph says she'll clear the table and Susan and Toadie leap at the chance to help her; Toadie sits Susan back down - she shouldn't worry about it, she's a guest after all. Susan looks thrilled.

At the sink, Toadie and Steph agree that this dinner is unbearable. Toadie suggests a hand grenade to get the conversation started, and Steph laughingly agrees - as long as it doesn't mean anyone starts nuding up. Which, of course, gives Toadie an idea. He asks if anyone else it hot in the kitchen, and starts taking his shirt off.

Charlotte says immediately that she has to leave - she has an early start. Toadie seems quite pleased about the effect he had on her. Boyd follows Charlotte out - she shouldn't leave yet, and she should believe him when he says that his friends are great people. Charlotte thinks that none of them want to know her, but Boyd wishes she'd give them a chance. He kisses her neck, and asks to go back to her apartment.

And the Least Believable Couple Ever prize goes to...

Number 30
Pepper, Rosie and Frazer are sitting on Pepper's bed being grossed out at the way that Frazer sucks his tea up through a TimTam. It SO has to be done. One of my favourite activities, too.

Rosie asks Pepper if she's ready to try and get some sleep, and offers to sleep in Pepper's room. Hang on - I thought she wasn't sleeping with Frazer yet, anyway, so why suggest that she sleep in here *tonight* like it's a new idea??

PEPPER: You guys are officially engaged. You don't wanna spend the night with your goofy friend.
ROSIE: Exactly. That's why I'm sleeping in here.
FRAZER: Alright. That's my cue to go.

Frazer wheels out, and on his way he tells Pepper that if she apologises one more time, then she's cleaning the bathroom for a month. Pepper thanks him for looking after her.

Number 32
Toadie, Steph, Karl and Susan are seated around the table, and Susan asks for some more wine. Alco. They all agree that the guest list made things awkward tonight, and Susie jokes that Karl's usually quite good company. Steph wonders if Charlotte thought they were rude - it's not easy to break into a new group of friends. (Cos, you know, Steph and Toadie and Karl and Susan have been socialising together for years.) Toadie thinks it's because she's worried they'll clock her as a phoney.

Karl agrees - whenever he tries to discuss anything medical with her she changes the subject or is completely clueless. Toadie also remembers the thing with Janae and tells Susan the story of her misdiagnosing Janae's concussion. Susan wonders if anyone could make a mistake like that, but Karl says no - not one like that.

Paul's flat
Paul is in agony with his head, and with Fox asleep on the sofa, he raids his bag to get his car keys. Fox wakes up and sees him trying to get away, but Paul says he was just getting his pills. He asks Fox to get him some water because the pain's so bad.

Whilst Fox is in the kitchen, Paul desperately searches for his keys again and hides them in his pocket. He tells Fox he needs his eye mask, and that it's in the bedroom. Fox goes to retrieve it, and Paul makes a dash for safety, unlocking the front door and locking Fox inside.

Run, Paul! Run like the wind!

Number 30
Frazer and Rosie have told Steph and Toadie about Charlotte and Carmella's case. Boyd walks in on their discussion, demanding to know what they're talking about. Frazer tells Boyd about Charlotte's past as a con artist, working casinos as card counters.

Boyd defends his girlfriend, but Rosie thinks that she doesn't really have a medical degree, either, and Steph agrees that Charlotte lacks the basic medical knowledge to be a doctor. Boyd is furious, and walks off, Steph following him out. Boyd tells Steph that he's going to have a shower and go to work. He won't give her up, because she makes him happy.

Outside Paul's flat
Paul is falling, literally, into the cars, trying to find his one. He finds it and collapses on the ground before he can open the door.