Mediation Session
The mediator compliments both Donna and Saffron on their level-headed behaviour today, but with Saffron's threat ringing in her ears, Donna leaps up and says that she lied about Saffron slapping her. The mediator is stunned. Ringo arrives just in time to see Donna run out, with Toadie and Elle following her. Saffron smiles wickedly to herself.

Ext - Mediation Building
Elle, Toadie and Ringo want to know what just happened, but Donna wonders why anyone would think she was telling the truth. Elle tries to talk some sense into her while Toadie and Ringo eavesdrop on Saffron, who is giving a verbal smackdown to Lindsay (one of her work lackeys who brought samples for Saffron to check). Lindsay wipes away a tear after Saffron heads back inside. Ringo and Toadie ask her why she lets Saffron get away with being a cow. Lindsay is hesitant to speak with them, but Ringo begs for five minutes of her time.

Harold's Store
Ringo wants Lindsay to testify against Saffron, but Lindsay doesn't want to lose her job. Ringo eventually talks her around by saying that she can't let Saffron intimidate and abuse her for the rest of her life. Lindsay needs to get her self-respect back.

Mediation Session
Donna glumly clarifies to the mediator that she lied about Saffron. She's a lying liar that lies. The mediator sees the frustrated look on Elle's face and asks if she has anything to add, so Elle says that Saffron did indeed slap Donna. Saffron snits that Elle doesn't have any proof and the case looks to be closed until Lindsay arrives with the boys and confirms that Saffron has pretty much done dastardly things to everyone on staff. Grateful for her support, Donna jumps up and hugs Lindsay. Saffron's simply outraged, dahling.

Number 22
Donna, Ringo, Toadie, Elle, Lucas, Rebecca and Paul celebrate with champagne - Saffron ended up confessing to the slap. Refraining from the alcohol to keep their brains alert for exams, Ringo and Donna head to the kitchen for an OJ where Donna thanks Ringo for his support. Finding the fridge OJ-less, Donna says it's a sign for Ringo to get back to studying. They reluctantly part company. Elle and Lucas leave not long after - Lucas has a surprise for her.

Garage
Photo montage time! Lucas takes some happy snaps of he and Elle together, managing to get some grease on Elle's face for old time's sake.

Harold's Store
Elle and Lucas giggle over the photos. Steph stops by with Charlie to say goodbye, but is surprised to learn that Lucas isn't going overseas. Elle wanders off to get food for her picnic with Lucas (now located in the garage and not at the lake thanks to the rain), while Steph gets Lucas to fess up to how he's really feeling.

LUCAS: Elle's going to be on the road a lot, she won't be settled in one place for years. She thinks it's going to be OK.
STEPH: And you don't?
(Lucas shakes his head)
STEPH: Well does she know this?
(Lucas shakes his head again)
STEPH: So when are you going to tell her?
LUCAS: I'm not.
STEPH: Lucas!
LUCAS: It's her dream job. She won't take it if she thinks it's going to be the end of us.
STEPH: But does it have to be the end of you?

Jumilla interrupts to ask if Lucas wants a horse in the store's Melbourne Cup sweep, and Lucas is kinda like, "I'm in GA woman! Surely Lyn's gossiped about me by now!" Jumilla goes off to pester other people. Steph tells Lucas that he needs to let Elle know how he's feeling.

Garage
Elle's enjoying her picnic with Lucas but notices that he's a little quiet. He wonders if their long-distance thing will work and Elle says that if he didn't want her to take the job he should have said so. Tearing up, Lucas says he does want Elle to take the job...

LUCAS: But I won't be coming to meet you.
ELLE: So all of this... Was really just to say goodbye?
(Lucas cups her face in his hand and they both try not to cry)
ELLE: Well then, thank you for the lovely picnic.

She gets up and walks out.

Number 22
Donna tries to "talk" her Ringo dilemmas out with Cat until Paul interrupts from a metre away (heh) and gruffly tells her to go and see Ringo. Elle storms in and tells them that Lucas isn't joining her overseas - ever - and Paul tries to explain that Lucas is just doing what's best for her.

PAUL: He's trying to do the right thing, he doesn't want to be a distraction.
DONNA: But she loves him!
PAUL: That doesn't matter.
DONNA: Yes it does, look at me and Ringo.
PAUL: What about you and Ringo?
DONNA: Well I've been totally distracting him, and yes he's been messing with me too, but it's good. It's good to be distracted.
ELLE: Donna's right.
PAUL: What?!
ELLE: Well Lucas isn't just a distraction, he's the man that I love and I've been so focused on my career that I've forgotten what's really important.
PAUL: No, no, no. Please, darling, do not throw this away.
ELLE: Well, dad, I don't want to throw away my relationship. No that's it, I'm staying. I'm going to stay with Lucas.
PAUL: No!
DONNA: Yes!
ELLE: Dad no, I'm choosing Lucas. I'm going upstairs to unpack.
DONNA: And I'm going to go make up with Ringo!

Paul's like, 'What the hell just happened?! I blame you, Cat!'

Number 28
Ringo opens the door to Donna, who is armed with books and is on a mission: they're going to study together.

DONNA: Ooh, whose Harper's Bazaar is that?
RINGO: Donna.
DONNA: Sorry.

OK. *Now* they're going to study. Donna wants to prove that they can be together without distracting one another. But Ringo gives in and says he likes it when she distracts him, so they kiss and make up.

Elle's Bedroom
Elle's in the process of chucking things out of her suitcase when Lucas arrives and tells her to stop. They admit they want to be together, but Lucas says it just isn't possible right now.

ELLE: Why not?
LUCAS: Because one morning you'll wake up and wonder what your life would've been like if you had have taken this job and then you'll hate me.
ELLE: I would never hate you.
LUCAS: Yes you would.
ELLE: Lucas I love you.
LUCAS: And I love you.
ELLE: Then what are we doing? We should be together.
LUCAS: No.
ELLE: Yes!
LUCAS: The time's not right for us. Maybe one day but not now.
ELLE: Well when?
LUCAS: I don't know.
ELLE: Well you should have told me how you felt.
LUCAS: Well now you know. So what are you going to do?

Elle looks at him with sad eyes.

Number 22
Lucas helps Elle bring her suitcases downstairs - she's going overseas. Donna arrives with Ringo and is sad to learn that Elle's changed her mind (about changing her mind). She tells the group that Lucas won't be joining her in NY. Rebecca and Donna give her a sad hug while Paul thanks Lucas for doing what's right. They all head out to go to the airport. Paul hangs back with Elle, but Elle just wants a minute alone. She says goodbye to Cat and takes one last look around the house before turning off the light and walking out.

Airport
They all walk Elle up to the gate looking very morose. Donna gives Elle a hug and then Elle takes Lucas aside to sit and cuddle with him for a few, last precious moments.

Sad music montage time! Rebecca holds onto Paul's hand while Ringo holds onto Donna's. Elle and Lucas snuggle some more. Paul sits and contemplates a future without his beloved daughter. Elle realises she has to board and shares one last hug with Donna, Ringo and Rebecca.

When Elle gets to her daddy he wraps her in a massive hug. Paul's eyes well up and he tells Elle he loves her.

Elle then clings onto Lucas one last time, sharing a few kisses. She rushes through the gate and steps onto the escalator, waving her family goodbye. Lucas watches with tears spilling down his face as she disappears from his life for good.

PAUL: You know she's not coming back don't you.
LUCAS: Yeah I know.

Goodbye Elle Robinson - Erinsborough's going to miss you.

Charlie's Bar
Steph and Toadie find Lucas sitting by himself, wallowing in pity, while punters merrily celebrate Melbourne Cup day around him (even though it's night and the Cup is well over). Toadie rings Dan - even though the brothers aren't exactly best mates right now, it's probably what Lucas needs.

The punters mill around Lucas and watch a race on TV (even though it's night and the Cup is well over). Lucas spies a form guide on the ground and picks it up. Will he go back to his gambling ways to escape from his grief?

Preview
[Tomorrow on Neighbours]
(Lucas assures Steph and Toadie he's cool)
LUCAS: I'm OK. I'm a big boy.
(Lucas walks into Elle's empty bedroom)
(Steph and Toadie look worried as Lucas watches a race on TV)
(Kate finds Donna in the school hallway)
KATE: Hey where's Dec?
(The kids are about to sit another exam - Declan's late)
KATE: Miss Kennedy, I'm sure Declan's not far away.
(Kyle looks bored in class)
(Libby keeps Zeke and Kyle back after class)
LIBBY: Zeke can I talk to you too.
(She looks at Kyle's assessment sheet - he got 89/100)
LIBBY: I've just been marking your English assignments.
ZEKE: You think I did his assignment?
(Sunny leaps up from her chair in HS)
DONNA: Hey, woah, where are you going?
SUNNY: (angry) To give him a piece of my mind.
(She chases after Kyle outside)
SUNNY: It's not cool, what about Zeke?
KYLE: Miss Kennedy's got nothing.
(Karl, Susan and Libby don't look impressed with Zeke)
SUSAN: You betrayed our trust, Zeke.