Harold's Store
Donna and Sunny are thrilled that Kate's back onboard for the Deb, but she's still worried about facing Jason Coleman. Kate also needs a partner - stunning the girls with news of Harry's suspension. Lyn brings out Sunny's dress from the dry-cleaning cupboard and laments that the girls aren't wearing white frocks. Donna asks for her "perfect eggshell blue" dress but Lyn won't hand it back till Donna finds her ticket.

Number 24
Sophie sulks into her tasteless spag bol and wonders where Kate is, guessing that Harry's upset her for the millionth time. Harry tries to smooth things over but Sophie's annoyed - no one ever tells her anything.

Number 28
Donna dumps the contents of her handbag on the coffee table to try and find her ticket, while Karl and Susan show Kate (Sunny, Zeke & Ringo) Libby's (ugly) old Deb dress. Kate tries to give the ugly dress a polite brush-off, but Susan just thinks that she's embarrassed to try it on with males there and kicks them out. Karl cheerfully suggests a game of Zombie Force IV but Ringo and Zeke quickly run off to Declan's.

KATE: I don't even know why I'm looking for a dress. Every boy has a partner or he's just a total...
SUNNY: Loser.
SUSAN: Oh come on, I'm sure that's not the truth.
DONNA: No, yeah it is.

Susan winces like, 'Really?' and Donna sagely nods in return. Kate thinks she should give up, but Donna says she can't let Amanda win, which fires Kate up again. Sunny suddenly finds Donna's missing ticket on the floor and all the girls squeal together about how totally awesome the Deb's going to be - even Susan. Heh.

Number 22
Harry pops in to see Declan with Ringo and Zeke following not long after. The #28 boys revel in the "chick-free zone" and mimic the squealing girls, accidentally upsetting India (who was probably all, 'Hey! I'M a chick!'). Declan's pleased to hear that Kate's going to the Deb, even though she's currently partner-less. Harry thinks Declan could take his sister, but an awkward silence fills the room and Dec replies that he has to look after India.

Harold's Store - Next Morning
Donna and Kate collect Donna's dress from Lyn, but Donna's alarmed to see yellow and lace instead of perfect and blue. Turns out the drycleaners lost her dress & they're unable to get it back in time. Donna pouts - she's stuck with the hot mess of a dress.

Later, Kate sits with Donna as she stares at the offending frock. Declan catches up with the girls, with Steph and Libby following not long after. They say how nice Donna's dress is (much to Donna's incredulity - "Why do adults have, like, zero sense of style?"), but whisper about the awfulness of it out of earshot.

Kate gets back to work and Steph and Libby con Lyn into helping with some of the catering for the Deb. One of the other suppliers pulled out at the last minute. Lyn just needs to make a few... hundred sandwiches. Steph and Lib offer to assist her.

Donna wishes Declan was coming to the Deb. She wishes Didge was too, even though she would've hated the idea. Donna worries that she shouldn't be bringing Didge up, but Dec says he likes it when they talk about her. Kate overhears Declan say that Harry asked him to take her to the Deb and is mortified. She apologises for her brother being so insensitive. Kate sees Lou walk in and gets an idea.

Charlie's Bar/Number 24
Kate tells Donna, Sunny, Ringo, & Zeke that she asked Lou to the Deb. Their reaction is pretty much: Buzzuh?! Meanwhile, Lou relays the news to Karl and Susan in the bar and they react in the same manner. Kate knows that it's weird, but better Lou than no date at all right!

*crickets chirp*

Lou said he felt sorry for the poor girl, but Susan wonders if it might look a little bit weird if he escorts her. Kate wants reassurance from her mates that it will all be OK and they unenthusiastically agree. Back at the bar, Lou wonders if he did the right thing by saying yes, but Susan and Karl say yes; he's a champ. When Kate and Lou walk away from their mates, however, they all agree that the situation is bizarro and they need to fix it.

DONNA/SUSAN: (split screen effect) We need to find another partner for Kate.

Harold's Store
Kate tells Harry off for pestering Declan about the Deb. Harry thought he was doing his sister a favour, but she snits that he wasn't thinking at all.

KATE: I found myself a date anyway.
HARRY: Who?
KATE: Lou.
HARRY: (laughs) ... Are you serious?

She kicks him out before going over to Declan to do some more damage control. Kate apologises again and promises that she didn't put Harry up to it. Declan starts to say sorry as well, but Kate cuts him off.

KATE: Please don't apologise. I would never ask you to do something like that.

Kate tells him about Lou and Declan tries to act like it's the best idea ever. Meanwhile, Karl and Susan walk in and make a quick beeline for Toadie, asking him if he might partner Kate to the Deb. Toadie thinks they're joking at first but then stammers that he's got a girlfriend and it would be awkward. Plus he can't waltz very well. Looks like it's back to the old drawing board for Karl and Susan.

Toadie joins Steph at the counter just as a young looking electrician emerges from the kitchen and gives Lyn a bill. She baulks at the cost and wonders if he's old enough to be qualified. Sensing an opportunity, Karl swoops over to the poor kid and takes him aside.

KARL: You look like the right age to me. Hi, I'm Karl... Are you doing anything tonight?

The young guy looks highly disturbed.

Number 28
Karl relays the story to Susan.

SUSAN: You what?
KARL: It's not as though anything happened. As soon as I asked him he just ran out of the store.

Donna shows Kate some sketches of how she's going to alter her Deb dress and Kate approves. Sunny walks out in her old timey dress, but the girls quickly rush over while the guys avert their gaze - Sunny's dress is see-through from the waist down. She shrieks and runs off, breaking a heel off her shoe in the process. It's too late to get a new pair after she's learnt to walk and dance in them, they're going to have to fix them. And get a slip. And a dress for Kate. And re-make Donna's shock frock.

Gosh Debs are fun.

Harold's Store
Kate asks Lyn for stronger shoe glue but Lynnie thinks they need to take it to a proper shoe repair place. Steph and Toadie look on.

TOADIE: Can't Sunny wear another pair of shoes?
KATE: Are you crazy? You can't change her heels this close to the Deb. Hello! Blisters! And she could fall over and break an ankle or something. It is so obvious you've never worn heels before.
TOADIE: Well actually I...

Kate thanks Lyn and rushes out.

Lassiter's Complex
Kate finds her gal pals and says they need a shoe repair shop. The only one Donna knows of is in Brunswick Street, so Sunny has to sacrifice her hair appointment to make it to the shoe store. Um, why don't you just ask hair guru Lyn? Anyway, they'll get Kate's dress while they're there and fix up everything else when they get back home.

Harold's Store
Toadie ponders that the girls take the Deb stuff seriously and Steph says it's one of the biggest nights of their lives. Toadie gets his 'hmm' face on.

TOADIE: Kate has asked Lou to partner her.
LYN: Oh, social death!

Libby arrives to check on the sandwich making and Lyn assures her there's enough out back to feed an army. Suddenly the electricity flicks off and Lyn has a fit. "I knew he was too young!"

Lassiter's Complex
Kate, Donna and Sunny walk arm-in-arm and talk about the Deb. It's stressful yet exhilarating and at the end of the day they get to have a big party with their mates. What more could they ask for? Declan, meanwhile, has overheard them chatting and gets a Toadie-style 'hmm' face on.

Number 22
Declan hangs out with a very gurgly India and tries to get excited about his big night in. He thinks he could go to India's Deb in the future.

DECLAN: Maybe you're going to be like your mum and think the Deb's going to be all boring and old-fashioned. Or you could be like me and just want to party with your mates...

Pausing, he sits down and cuddles India.

DECLAN: It still should be fun.
INDIA: Blerrrgh.
DECLAN: (trying harder) It still should be good.
INDIA: GLAAARGH!
DECLAN: No? Hmm.

Charlie's Bar
Declan finds Ringo and Zeke all suited up with nowhere to go (they're hiding from the Deb-crazed girls). Zeke's hair looks like he turned on the blow-dryer and set it to 'Elvis'.

RINGO: Thank God for being a guy. You just slap on a suit and you're sorted.
ZEKE: What are you talking about? You spent forty minutes doing your hair.
RINGO: He spent about fifty on his!
ZEKE: Yeah but I'm not going around saying (mimicking Ringo) slap on a suit and you're all sorted!
DECLAN: You guys crack me up.

He tells his mates he's in for a Wallace & Gromit marathon with India: he's just getting some cake first. Zeke gets a phone call and he and Ringo have to vamoose for a pre-Deb photo session with Karl. (And I'm very excited to see that they actually finish their drinks before they leave instead of leaving the glass full - that always annoys me!).

Harry waltzes into the bar (the perfect place for an unaccompanied minor who was just suspended for alcohol-related shenanigans) and finds Declan. He's all, "Lou is EWWW! Be Kate's partner!" and Declan's like, "No, Lou will treat her like a pretty pretty princess, there's no worries". But Harry's worried about everyone laughing at his sister, especially Amanda and Jason Coleman.

HARRY: I reckon Bridget would want you to help her.
DECLAN: Don't you dare tell me what Bridget would want.
HARRY: I'm just trying to...
DECLAN: Yeah and I already said no.
HARRY: Are you going to spend the rest of your life locked away?
DECLAN: Leave.
HARRY: Look, Kate's in trouble because of me but I can't help her. You can.
DECLAN: Leave.

Harry finally takes the hint, but Declan looks a bit rattled.

Number 22
Declan settles with India on the couch for their Wallace & Gromit marathon, but India looks about as enthused as Declan feels and probably wishes she could say something like, "Dad, I appreciate the DVDs, but you know those were-rabbits scare me and you need a fun night out with those loud, tall people. I'm fine just chillin' here making spit bubbles and stinking up my nappy. Seriously."

Number 26
Susan looks fondly at Lou who is putting the finishing touches on his bowtie. She calls him the belle of the ball and he starts waltzing around the kitchen with her.

Number 24
Kate does a twirl in her (horrid green, bunched awkwardly around the boobs) dress for Sophie and Harry. Sophie says she looks like a princess. The Princess of Granny-ville?

Number 28
Karl, Ringo and Zeke wait for Donna and Sunny to emerge in their outfits. Sunny's in her blue nightgown-looking thing while Donna has "fixed" hers and included what looks like a studded black belt and black, lacy gloves. Ohh, I'm really not a fan of ANY of these dresses. They look like they're going to the local retirement ball at the old folks' home. I'm with Lynnie, where are the white frocks?!

Number 22
Declan sits with India and mulls things over.

Number 26
Lou continues to spin Susan 'round the room. Here's hoping she's over any morning sickness.

Number 24
Kate and Sophie ring-a-ring-a-rosy around the room. I'm getting dizzy.

Number 22
Declan smiles at India before ringing up Rebecca.

Number 28
Karl gathers everyone together for a few happy snaps, having to re-take a few because Zeke dared to blink.

Number 24
Kate answers the door and is surprised to find Toadie waiting there with a corsage. Aww. But then Lou rocks up as well and everyone is very confused. Toadie and Lou each hold out a corsage to Kate. Decision time!

Number 24
Lou and Toadie are bickering over who's going to escort Kate to the Deb.

LOU: Kate asked me first.
TOADIE: You're old enough to be her grandfather.
LOU: Have you not heard the expression 'with age comes wisdom'?
TOADIE: Well then you'd be wise enough to know that you should stay home.
LOU: In my day I was ballroom dancing champion material - I could dance rings around you, sunshine!
TOADIE: Bring it on, Grandpa!

Kate breaks them up (while Sophie and Harry look on highly amused). She says it's very sweet of them both but she doesn't want any fighting. Toadie and Lou agree, but...

LOU: If you want some arrogant upstart with two left feet to escort you, far be it from me to stand in your way.
TOADIE: Yes, and if you want an old man lurching around with you all night well then I'm not going to hold any grudges.
LOU: So, who's it to be?

Kate flounders around for an answer until...

DECLAN: Can I put my hand up?

Declan, looking lovely in a suit, smiles at Kate. Kate looks relieved she doesn't have to choose between Statler and Waldorf.

Preview
[Tomorrow on Neighbours]
(Amanda is jealous to see Kate with Declan at the Deb)
AMANDA: I thought you were bringing grandpa.
KATE: I traded up.
(Libby helps out Jason Coleman)
LIBBY: There's Kate Ramsay, over there.
JASON: That's her.
(Kate and Declan are presented to the crowd)
(Kate trips on her dress right in front of Jason - Amanda laughs)
(Donna talks to Elle about Lucas)
DONNA: You think he's gambling again?
ELLE: Well why else would he take $2000 out of his savings account?
(Flashback to Elle finding an ATM receipt in Lucas's jacket pocket)
LUCAS: I have learnt my lesson, there's no surprises with me.
(Kate dances with Jason)
JASON: I was a little disappointed you didn't fight for that place in my showcase.
(Amanda bumps into Steph, who accidentally spills food on Kate)
(Jason sees the whole event unfold)
(Kate has a freak out in the loos with Donna)
KATE: I knew I shouldn't have come tonight!