Prisoner Cell Block H Kennedy's New Cell
Musical Montage: Susan giving fingerprints; having her mugshot taken (awful to see). Susan then stands alone in her cell. She looks around before sitting down on what I can only assume is meant to be a bed.

Number 22
Rebecca is on the phone, being told that Declan is off the hook. She tells Paul and Oliver that someone else has confessed to hitting Bridget, but the police are not being helpful in looking for her son.

Ollie's mobile rings; it's Declan. Becca jumps and claps like a three year old. However, it's not Declan on the phone, it's someone Ollie doesn't know who claims to have his brother.

Nick tells Oliver to pay him the money he wants, and he'll get Declan back in one piece - oh, and he mustn't go to the police. Oliver agrees, and wants to speak to Dec, but Nick refuses.

Lassiters
Laura sits watch over Declan who is asleep on the sofa. Nick returns and tells Laura that Oliver is freaking out, now, and they should send him the video they have of Declan.

Prisoner Cell Block H Kennedy's New Cell
No pink cardi? I'm disappointed.

Susan sits alone in her cell, looking lonely and scared when she hears her door being opened; she looks up to see Toadie. She gets up and throws her arms around his neck, clinging on and not letting go.

TOADIE: Susan, I am so sorry for you to be in here like this.

Eventually she pulls away and he takes her hands, declaring that he's her legal counsel at her service.

SUSAN: I feel better already.

She doesn't look it, in the slightest. He squeezes her hands.

TOADIE: Susan, I am going to fight this with everything I've got.
SUSAN: I don't want you to fight it.
TOADIE: Of course you do!
SUSAN: I've caused so much suffering to Bridget and her family; I deserve this.
TOADIE: Susan, if you blacked out that's extenuating circumstances, we can get some kind of medical proof...
SUSAN: Toadie, Toadie - Toadie. Stop being a lawyer.
TOADIE: Susan -
SUSAN: This is what I want.
TOADIE: You should sleep on this.
SUSAN: I don't want you to fight for me. I just want you to be here for me.

Toadie reluctantly accepts what she's saying. He puts his arms around her and hugs her tightly.

Number 22
Rebecca is crying on the sofa. Like, that's new.

Oliver sits with her and suggests that this is a hoax, but Becca knows it's not. Paul wants to know what the guy sounded like and what he knew, and Ollie says all the guy knew was that there's money.

Dec gets a new message on his phone. Rebecca sobs. Oh shut up already! We're only had two scenes from you so far, get a grip. It's a video message of Declan on the sofa. Rebecca sobs again. Paul goes to call the police but Oliver prevents him...they said they'd hurt Dec if the police got involved. Right - cos letting a kidnapper have power over you is going to help, is it?

Paul says he's got very little money, and Oliver reminds us that he has frozen assets (nasty disease, that)...Rebecca says she'll do anything. What, even stop crying? No, didn't think so.

Oliver says they do whatever it takes, and Paul points out that gives the kidnappers power. That's what *I* said!

Lassiters
Outside the hotel room, Laura wonders what's happening with Oliver - are they calling the police, or their bank? Nick reminds her that she knew nothing about Gus for years; twenty four hours of them missing Declan is nothing.

Laura and Nick go into the room, and Declan is just getting up. He thinks that as he's not guilty, he should just go home and explain it to the police. Nick suggests that's not a great idea - there's so much evidence against him. Declan disagrees, and goes to leave, but Nick stops him and pushes him back to the bed.

Number 28
Karl is on the phone, looking distressed and confused.

KARL: They can't keep her in there all night, she's not a criminal. No, I will NOT settle down, Toadie...

Rachel and Zeke come into the kitchen, arguing over whether Bridget should have time to recover before she gets some extra tutoring to catch up with her school work. As they argue, Karl looks more and more upset in the lounge, and he tells them to be quiet.

RACH: What's wrong? Is it Bridget?
KARL: No, it's Susan. She's at the police station.
ZEKE: What?
KARL: She's been taken into custody. Only til they've processed it, then she'll be home.
RACH: Erm, I don't understand...
KARL: She's the one who hit Bridget.

The kids are gobsmacked, and didn't know that Susan was driving Declan's car. Karl tells them that she's been arrested and charged.

Lassiters
Dec is on the sofa, with his hands tied. Literally.

He tries to get to the door to escape, and Nick grabs him again. Nick suggests that if Ollie won't get the money, they could always try Rebecca. Declan wants to know what they've done, and Laura tells him it's all about Paul - Paul killed Laura's brother.

Number 22
Oliver's phone rings and it's Nick again. He wants $500K in cash. If they can't pay, Declan will - after all, what goes around comes around. Oliver tells Nick they'll find the money, and Nick instructs them again not to call the police.

Oliver doesn't know if they can get the money - he's got the $100K that Tim got him, though, and that's a start. Paul thinks they should call the police but Rebecca refuses. Doesn't she know that the first rule of kidnapping is never, ever negotiate?! Doesn't she ever watch American drama?

There's a knock at the door, and it's Adam who invites himself in. He asks them how they're coping.

Lassiters
Laura and Declan talk, and he thinks Nick's bullying her into it. He wants to know why he's here, that's all. Laura says it's justice for her brother, and compensation. Declan says that Paul wouldn't kill anyone, but Nick reminds him that Paul has already confessed to them.

Number 22
Adam tells Rebecca that everyone is looking for Declan, and she suggests that maybe they shouldn't. Adam thinks it's the least they can do for him, but the family think that he will turn up eventually, when he's ready.

Adam tells them that it was Susan who did the hit and run, and Oliver is furious - she didn't come forward when Declan's out there in danger? Rebecca quickly covers by saying she doesn't like to think of her son out there on his own at a time like this. Adam tells them that Susan's being charged, and leaves.

Outside the house, Adam looks suspicious.

Number 28
Karl is asking Toadie why Susan will have to be locked up today as well as last night.

TOADIE: It's only until the bail Justice can fit her in.
KARL: Well when will that be?!
TOADIE: First thing this morning.
KARL: Toadie, it *is* first thing thi...

Karl gets worked up and apologises; he hasn't had much sleep. Rachel and Zeke run in, asking what's going on, and just as they do, Toadie gets a call to say that they should go to the prison to pick up Susie-Q. Karl tells the kids to get breakfast, and he'll call when he knows something - but they refuse, they're coming too.

KARL: You know how proud Susan is, she wouldn't want you seeing her in a place like that.
RACH: What Susan wants and what she needs are two completely different things.
ZEKE: We're coming.

And the kids, Karl, Toadie and Steph all pile out the house.

Number 22
Rebecca asks Paul what happens if Ollie can't raise the money, and Paul suggests they think about who the kidnappers could be - someone from Becca's past? Rebecca thinks it's personal - the guy on the phone said "what goes around comes around."

Paul suddenly clicks - this is about him, not her. He tells Becca to call Oliver and not to do a thing until he calls; he thinks he knows where Oliver is.

And he leaves the house without telling Rebecca, so now if anything happens to Paul, no-one will know where he is, either.

So no-one knows where Declan is, no-one knows where Paul is. Is this the same place where Lil, Serena and Dee are?

The General Store
Harry, Lou and Valda are unpacking boxes of stock. Harold says he saw Karl last night, and he looked awful; Lou can't believe that Susan of all people would do something like that. Valda suggests that Lou owes Oliver and Declan an apology.

LOU: But Susan, leaving the scene of a crime...
HAROLD: We all know Susan, we know there's a perfectly good explanation.
VALDA: Yeah, but what about those poor kids? Fancy your step mum being banged up in a jail cell.

At least one of them might stay loyal to Susan this time. It's like Izzy, mark 2.

Carmella comes in with a veggie box, and Valda demands that Harold take the box from her - she's a pregnant woman after all. Yes - pregnant, not incapable. But anyway. Lou tells her to sit down, and Valda doesn't think she should be carrying boxes around. Carmella tells her she can't give it up - it's her business.

VALDA: Well hire someone.
CARM: I'll be alright; I just have to take it easier.

Valda reminds her she's carrying a precious cargo(!), and Carmella retorts that the 'cargo' needs feeding and clothing when it's born so she can't afford to give up work!

Valda does her thoughtful face.

Prisoner Cell Block H Kennedy's Release at the Prison
Susan is signing some documentation.

SOPHIE: And you're happy with the treatment you've received?
SUSAN: Five star all the way.
SOPHIE: We have to ask. Procedure.

Toadie comes in, and Susan asks if Bridget's improved. He breaks the news that she hasn't - she's still critical. Susan says she understands that if Bridget's condition worsens, the charges will be upgraded and she'll return to custody.

Sophie releases her. Toadie tells Susan that her cheer squad is here, and she's upset that the kids have come along.

In the waiting area, Karl turns around to see Susan arriving through the door she left in the previous episode. He gasps and she looks at him, ready to run to him. But the kids get to her first, throwing their arms around her. She reassures them that everything's okay, it will be alright.

With Susan hugging the kids, Karl takes one of her hands, presses his lips to her wrist, and holds onto her arm tightly. They look at each other, and she struggles to keep her emotion in check.

The General Store
Carmella is still sitting at the table, and asks if she can leave, yet. She's rested now. Lou says no - not until Valda agrees. Harry accuses Lou of being scared of Valda which doesn't impress him in the slightest.

Valda returns to Carmella's table with a job offer - lingerie for the larger woman. Carmella doesn't think it's her sort of thing, so Valda tells her that she wants her to sell it, not model it.

Kind-hearted Valda offers Carmy a 30% cut of everything she sells, which would cover the wages of someone to run Celestial Fruits for her. Plus, she also knows that when her naughty numbers hit the market, they'll make her a killing.

LOU: Valda, Valda. Have you ever heard the expression 'Pride Comes Before A Fall?'
VALDA: Have you ever heard the expression 'Butt Out Hairy Legs?'

Harry thinks that's funny, but Lou shoots him a look that would freeze an Eskimo and he quickly walks away. Carmella thinks the online retail thing is tempting...perhaps for her business more than Valda's, though?

LOU: Tell you what, why don't you combine your businesses, eh? Pyjamas on bananas.

Valda is unimpressed. Carmella really appreciates the thought, and so Valda decides to give her some free online retailing advice.

VALDA: Hot chocolates, please, Lou. Keep them coming.

She clicks her fingers.

Lassiters
Nick and Laura talk about the new start in life that they are about to have, and tell Declan that he's coming with them, until they get the cash.

There's a knock at the door and it's Paul. Nick grabs Declan and puts a hand over his mouth; he drags him to the bathroom.

Laura answers the door to Paul who makes small talk, wondering how she is. He sees the bags and asks if she's leaving and she says she is - she's been sponging off Paul long enough.

PAUL: You know, I would have given you anything you wanted. All you had to do was ask.
LAURA: Yeah, I know.
PAUL: But I guess you wanted to hurt me.
LAURA: What?
PAUL: What's going on, Laura?
LAURA: Nothing...

Declan cries out to Paul from the bathroom, and the three men grapple for a while, before Laura hits Paul over the head with a vase.

LAURA: That's for Gus.

Miraculously, despite the huge crashing and splitting noise of the vase, not a splinter of china is to be seen on the floor.

Laura and Nick grab their bags and leave.

Cut to moments later, and Paul gets up from the floor. We get a terrific long shot of the room - and still not ONE piece of smashed vase ANYWHERE on the floor. Or the bed. Or the sofa. Amazing. Simply amazing.

They should make aeroplanes out of that stuff.

Ramsay Street
Karl drives up with Susan in the passenger seat and the kids in the back. Lovely shot of the RS sign.

Sad and pale, Susan stares at number 22 when Karl pulls up for a moment. She lowers her eyes and stares at nothing, and Karl reaches over to her, takes her hand.

KARL: You sure you're ready?
SUSAN: Karl it's my home.

She doesn't look convinced. Neither do Rachel and Zeke, who try and make her feel better by telling her the pets missed her loads last night, didn't eat properly. Karl wonders if they'll have to get that daft pet psychologist back. Susan puts on some very fake smiles, but her eyes can't hide the fact that she's barely registering anything.

They pass Valda and Steph unpacking shopping from Steph's car. Susan waves, and they wave back at her. Karl pulls into number 28, and Susan stares over at the Parkers' house regretfully.

She turns to see Oliver getting out of his car with a briefcase (full of money, one presumes). He stares at her, unforgiving.

With the kids standing under the arbour, Karl puts his arms around Susan's shoulders, and leads her home.