Bush
Despite Rebecca's warning to stay away, Richard moves towards her but she chickens out and lowers the big stick she is holding. He tells her that they are connected and that she needs him as much as he needs her. She responds by saying that she doesn't need him, that feels sorry for him, and throwing the stick on the ground, adds that is why she is going to walk away because it is all over. Richard doesn't agree with her because he wants to be the one to say when it is all over and tries to grab her. She shakes him loose and he falls to the ground and then starts to panic because he is out cold.

Paul and Declan head through the trees and Rebecca runs to them distressed because she thinks that she's killed Richard! Paul hands his mobile to Declan to call an ambulance but he suggests that all their problems would be over if they just left him there. Rebecca tells him to call an ambulance as she and Paul head to where Richard is.

Charlie's
Toadie tries to get Karen to stay and make a statement and she agrees to hear Toadie out while they wait for Rosie to return. He reassures her that they will be alongside her all the way and they need her help to stop Richard. Karen has memories of how Richard was and so decides not to help in case Richard comes after her.

No. 28
Karl welcomes Susan back and she gives him an update about their youngest grandchild. He is stunned to see that Susan has returned home with a set of golf clubs (although she refuses to disclose how much they cost) and even more so when she tells him that she now knows how to play and that she is challenging him to a round with the loser making breakfast in bed for a week.

The General Store
Ollie congrats Adam on getting into the police and while he goes to get drinks of the non-alcoholic variety to celebrate, Adam finally gets Pepper to talk about what is troubling her.

PEPPER: You know how I said that my results came back normal?
ADAM: Yes.
PEPPER: Well they didn't. They came back with these irregularities or whatever they are.

He asks if she is due back at the hospital and when Pepper replies that afternoon, he asks what time *they* have to be there at and she looks happy at him supporting her.

Charlie's
Toadie is ruing letting Karen leave but feels Rosie will have to be the one to entice her back because he feels she is so jumpy when he is around. Steph wonders where Rosie is and Toadie explains that she took a collect call on behalf of her dad and then took off and can't be contacted.

Frazer enters carrying Rosie's files to tell them that Rosie is on a plane heading towards Italy to see Rocco's older sister who is dying and she is doing the dutiful niece bit given Rocco is tied up! Toadie starts to fret because he realises how much work they have on as well as moving into their new premises but Rosie has that covered as Frazer reads out a list of instructions (and who could be a temporary replacement to help) provided by Rosie and is glad she is no longer working for Tim given her hasty departure! Toadie looks stunned at Rosie's suggestion to get as a replacement (Diana Murray - Toadie's (expensive) hero!) and he wonders if she'd be tempted to work at their fledgling law firm.

Hospital
The doc leaves a still unconscious Richard to talk to the gathered and admits that she is surprised at him still being unconscious. She asks about Richard's medical history but before Rebecca can answer, the Senior Constable interrupts wanting a statement from her.

Charlie's
Toadie leaves a message on Diana Murray's phone spelling out the positives of working for RC and for her to all him but frets when he comes off the phone. Steph tells him to calm down or he'll have another anxiety attack and reassures him that its Diana's tough luck if she chooses not to work with him when he gets stressed again over the message he left.

Just as they are having a kiss or two, Steph tells him to hold that thought as she is off to her first council meeting and is looking excitedly nervous. He asks if she has a power suit with shoulder pads because he just loves shoulder pads! "Yes, something like that," replies Steph as Toadie starts daydreaming!

Erinsborough Council HQ
What else would Steph Hoyland use for transport to her first council meeting? Yes, you've guessed it, her trusty motorbike. And when she roars into the carpark, a snobby woman approaches her, informing Steph that the couriers park round the back.

STEPH: (pulling off her helmet) G'day. I'm Steph Hoyland, Councillor Steph Hoyland actually!
SNOBBY WOMAN: ...

Hospital
Rebecca is telling the Senior Constable about Richard and that it was purely an accident. She adds that he almost pushed her too far but she wouldn't do anything, even if it was Richard. The officer is happy with what Rebecca has said and Rebecca moves so she can talk to Paul just as Toadie arrives to bring her news that Karen has back out of being a potential witness and it doesn't seem to surprise Rebecca. She thanks him for what he'd done but he replies that he isn't done yet.

Inside Richard's room, the doc shouts out for help when the heart rate monitor shows that Richard's heart rate is increasing and the gathered watch on from the door.

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the hospital, Dr Olenski is explaining to Adam and Pepper what she is going to do to Pepper (a colposcopy) but reassures them that there is nothing to be worried about. Pepper is dumbstruck when Olenski asks if they have any questions, and Adam asks her to explain what she meant by Stage 2. She tells them it means that half the thickness of the cervical lining is comprised of abnormal cells but reassures them that it isn't anything to be too concerned about although regular checks will be made to make sure it doesn't reach Stage 3, called carcinoma in situ, which Pepper knows is medical language for cancer.

DR OLENSKI: But because we've caught this early there's every chance you are going to be fine.

No. 28
Karl is showing off his putting skills by putting the ball into the cup before trying to put Susan off as she attempts it and he succeeds when she putts past the cup. Their game is interrupted when Pepper and Adam call round for a chat.

Erinsborough Council HQ
Steph is so enthralled with her first council meeting that she's doodling away on her notepad. The chairman closes the meeting but Steph wants to discuss Stinger's memorial wall but is told in no uncertain terms that if it isn't on the agenda then it isn't being discussed and the rules also state that once the meeting is closed, nothing else can be discussed. Steph is stunned and annoyed at not being able to discuss it and the snooty chairman seems to take delight in reminding her that it is a council not a bikers club meeting! She wants to discuss it with Mr Snooty but the woman who thought she was a courier earlier, tells Steph to let it go and offers to give her a crash course in how things work in the council in return for a drink.

Hospital
The doc lets the gathered into Richards room now he is stabilised and they are stunned to find out that Richard has renal failure and that he's been having dialysis. The doc also mentions that he's been on the transplant list for about a year now and relays to them the news that Richard only has a few weeks left.

THE GATHERED: ...

No. 28
Pepper is over the shock now and wants some info about the procedure and if she should be worried. Karl reminds her that he isn't an expert (as if that has stopped him before!) but says that the diagnosis being stage 2 is actually a good thing.

PEPPER: Yes right!

He expands on what he said that they've caught the changes early enough and can do something adding that is why women should have regular smear tests. Adam asks about the cancer and Karl tells them to forget about it right now, the treatment Pepper is going to have is straightforward and reliable and that her doctor is good.

The pair of them depart after thanking Karl for answering their questions and with him reassuring that things will be fine. Karl sees a look on Susan's face and wonders if he missed anything but Susan replies that he didn't, just wondering when he is going to go back to being a doctor. Karl isn't listening though and tells her she sounds like a broken record.

Hospital
Rebecca tells Paul that she is annoyed that Richard is gong to get off with it if he dies; she wanted him to at lease admit he was sorry. At the other side of the waiting area, Ollie sits with Declan who still wishes that they'd left Richard to die in the bush and asks his brother if he'd have acted in the same way. Declan isn't surprised when Ollie can't reply to his question.

Charlie's
Steph is still fuming about what Mr Snooty said as she and Jackie enter the bar. Jackie tells Steph that Mr Snooty (aka Bill) is a long standing councillor and so set in his ways and adds that if Steph wants to get anything done she has to do it in such a way as to not get the other elected officials offside. Steph wonders why Stinger's wall would be considered offensive and Jackie reassures he it wasn't she just needs to go about it the right way to get it discussed by first getting it on the agenda and then who to talk to, to get the necessary votes to allow her motion to be passed. Steph isn't so sure what she signed up to now that Jackie has explained it all.

JACKIE: You can change things Steph but you have to learn how to play by the rules before you break them!

At a table, Adam remarks that Pepper hasn't touched her food and admits he had a feeling that would happen and so came prepared... and places an umbrella stick on her food and calls it 'exotic'. This does get a laugh from her but the smile soon disappears when someone who went to school with her enters the bar - Sophie the Senior Constable, who is going to be Adam's new partner when he starts next week. Adam wants to know why she and Sophie didn't hit it off but Pepper isn't saying although perhaps the fact Sophie called her Heidi is maybe a reason why.

Hospital
Richard comes round and wants to know what happened, so Rebecca fills him in before adding that she knows he is dying and wondered if he'd liked to clear his conscious since there is just the two of them in the room (he can't see Declan hiding).

Much to her distress, the only thing that Richard will admit to is to loving her and he isn't rising to her bait about her father clearing his conscious before he died. Finally she tells him he isn't worth her time and goes to head out the room and Richard tells her she is never going to hear a confession from him, he'd rather die first.

Doctor's office
Declan enters Dr Vinton's to ask that he be tested to see if his kidney's are compatible with Richard's. The doc is rather surprised at his brave decision and reminds him that he may not be a match and in the case of kidney donation, the donor suffers more pain than the recipient. That news isn't putting Declan off; he just wants to keep his father alive and lies to the doc when she says that he must love his father to do something like this.