No.22
Paul asks Sophie what she wants to do for Christmas. He and Andrew were going to go to a restaurant, but now thinks maybe they should stay home. He tells her that Christmas is all about family.

No.24
Paul is trying to persuade Kate to come to Christmas with them. She sees right through him and tells him she knows he wants her to make up with Sophie.

No.22
Sophie tells Paul that she won't make up with Kate and won't spend Christmas with her.

No.24
Paul wants Kate to talk to Sophie, but she says Sophie won't even give her a chance.

Charlie's
Tash and Michael are discussing Christmas. Tash wants to know if they're going to go to the beach this year...maybe they could go to the place her mum died to say goodbye. Michael isn't sure Tash is ready, but agrees that they can go. Tash then tells him that she wants to ask someone else.

Harold's Store
Tash is inviting Emilia to come to the beach with her and Michael. Emilia isn't sure, but Tash is insistent - her mum would want Emilia there. Emilia says that Tash is very like her mother - very good at guilt trips! She agrees to think about it.

Charlie's
Lucas sits down with Michael and asks how he is. They have a chat and Lucas pours out the stuff about Chris getting bashed at the garage. Lucas can't think who it could have been, now that he's ruled out the homophobic customer.

MICHAEL: So, any other leads?
LUCAS: I'm going to find the scum- bag. Whatever it takes.

No.24
Emilia is debating going to the beach with Tash and Michael. Lucas says if she wants to, she should just do it. He is cooking dinner and is clearly still worried about Chris.

Kate is off out to meet some friends in the City, clearly feeling the freedom of not having to look after Sophie!

Lassiter's, the following morning
Emilia has decided to come to the beach after all.

EMILIA: We all need to face this.

Tash is delighted and goes off to the van.

EMILIA: I can drive myself down there.
MICHAEL: You can come with us if you want.
EMILIA: In the Sandman?
EMILIA: Yeah.
EMILIA: I don't think so. Look, for the record, I think this is a bad idea. I'm only doing it for Tash.
MICHAEL: Me too.
EMILIA: Because I haven't been able to face going back there.

No.22
Paul has invited Kate over on some pretext. He tells her and Sophie that they need to talk through things calmly.

KATE: I'm sorry, Sophie, you know I am, I've said it enough times.
SOPHIE: Sorry isn't really good enough.
KATE:(exasperated) Well, what would be good enough?!
SOPHIE: Nothing, you're wasting your time trying.

Kate gets up.

KATE: Fine, I don't have time for this.
PAUL: Kate, come on...
KATE: No, I'm not going to sit here, Paul, and let her keep having digs at me.
SOPHIE: You can't blame me...
KATE: Shut up, Soph.
SOPHIE: Don't tell me to shut up!
PAUL: Girls, girls, girls!
SOPHIE: I hate you!
KATE: Really! Do you? Because you know, I thought you'd be thanking me. Think of all the mistakes you've made and I've forgiven you for every single one! Even Mark.
SOPHIE: OK, that is not my fault!
PAUL: Kate...
KATE: No, it's not enough, Paul. I've had it up to here with her blaming me for everything.

No.24(later)
Paul comes around to see Kate, much to her irritation.

PAUL: What were you up to last night?
KATE: I went out. Because I'm old enough.
PAUL: You know, Kate, I don't know what's going on, but this is not the real you.
KATE: Who is the real me?
PAUL: Someone who doesn't talk to their sister like that. Someone who shows a bit more compassion. Someone better.
KATE: Well, nice Kate got me nowhere, did she. I'd really like you to leave now.

She pushes Paul back over the threshold and tries to shut the door. But Paul puts his foot in the door and tells her he wants to give her the trust fund money early. Maybe she could take Sophie and Harry away on a holiday.

PAUL: Trust me, Kate. Don't turn your back on family. It's somethign you'll regret for the rest of your life.

Beach
Tash, Michael and Emilia have arrived (in separate cars). Their mood is sombre and they make their way down to the sand. They walk up to the waterline.

TASH: Is this where it happened?
MICHAEL: Yeah.
TASH: Can you tell me about it? I need to get it right in my head. Please. We only have to do this once. I have to know.
MICHAEL: It was a beautiful day. It was sunny, not to cold. It was a bit windy, but not too bad. It took ages to convince your mum to get out of the car, she was worried about her hair. I went for a surf. We had a picnic...started making sandcastles. You loved doing that. I went to get changed and...came back from the car and you were both gone. I saw you both in the water and I ran...I've never run so fast in my life. But I wasn't quick enough. I should have kept a better eye on you. Both of you.

Michael hugs Tash to him. She has started to cry.

Charlie's
Mr Pappas has come to see Lucas. He asks Lucas if Chris was attacked because he was gay. Lucas admits he did think that at first, but now he thinks it must be related to his refusal to sell to the developers.

MR PAPPAS: I know you've looked out for him. Just find whoever did this.
LUCAS: I will.
MR PAPPAS: Look, Chris tells me that all your family are inter- state, is that right?
LUCAS: Yeah.
MR PAPPAS: If you're not doing anything on Christmas Day, come to ours.
LUCAS:(surprised) George...that's very good of you.
MR PAPPAS: Well, I know Chris would like it, and it's important to be with those people you're closest to on Christmas.
LUCAS: Thank you, George, that's a very generous offer. But you've made me realise there's someone else I should be spending it with.

Beach
Tash, Michael and Emilia are sitting quietly on the beach.

TASH: It's so peaceful here.
MICHAEL: Yeah, that's why your mum hated it. Nothing to entertain her.
TASH: Yeah, I don't blame her.

Michael takes a box of rose petals out of her bag.

EMILIA: They were her favourite.
MICHAEL: When I come here, I scatter them in the water for her.
TASH: How often do you come?
MICHAEL: Every year.
TASH: I should have been with you.
MICHAEL: Come on.

He and Tash walk down to the waterline and scatter the petals, but Emilia remains where she is.

Presently, Emilia's phone rings and it's Lucas.

LUCAS: You went to the beach?
EMILIA: Yeah.
LUCAS: You OK?
EMILIA: Yeah. Yeah, I'm actually starting to see things a bit clearer.
LUCAS: Well, that's good. I'll be quick, then. Um...look...I was wondering if you want to spend Christmas together?

There is a bit of a pause.

LUCAS: Emilia? Look, I know you'll be with Michael and Tash for some of it, but, when you're not, I thought you could be with me.
EMILIA: Can I think about it?
LUCAS: Of course you can. I was just thinking about you...and thinking it might be nice. Let me know what you think.
EMILIA: OK. I will. Thanks, Lucas. Bye.

Emilia joins Micahel and Tash at the waterline. She takes Michael's hand.

No.22
Sophie opens the door to Kate.

SOPHIE: Paul! Someone's here to see you!

What a horrible brat.

Kate just rolls her eyes. She goes into the kitchen and tells Paul she's going to take him up on his offer - a holiday is a really good idea. Paul is very pleased and goes online straightaway to transfer the money.

PAUL: Do you want to tell Sophie?
KATE: Oh, no, Sophie's not going. You were right, I need time away, but not with her. So, erm, Sophie's all yours!

She gets up and hastens out of the house!

Beach
Tash goes for a walk, leaving Michael and Emilia alone.

EMILIA: Is she going to be alright?
MICHAEL: Yeah. She just needs some time. How are you holding up?

She doesn't answer.

EMILIA: How about you?
MICHAEL: I'm fine.
EMILIA: Come on, Michael. Being back here...with Tash...and me...it can't be that easy.
MICHAEL: No.
EMILIA: I've never...talked to anyone about this.
MICHAEL: Me either. I still see Helena.
EMILIA: Me too.
MICHAEL: When?
EMILIA: In dreams...when I'm giving myself a hard time I sometimes feel her, just out of reach.
MICHAEL: Is she angry?
EMILIA: No, not angry. She's disappointed. Like she knows what we did.
MICHAEL: Lately I've been seeing her more and more...I think everything's fine and then...there she is. We shouldn't talk about this. Won't help.
EMILIA: No, I know. Nothing will.
MICHAEL: Hey...don't think like that.

He hugs her, but Emilia pulls back.

EMILIA: I can't do this.

She gets up and walks away.

Michael catches up with Emilia at the car park.

MICHAEL: You can't just leave! What'll I tell Tash?
EMILIA: Make something up, it's what you usually do, isn't it? Lie about what happened.
MICHAEL: Just come and say goodbye to her, OK, then you never have to come back here again.
EMILIA: I can't do it. I can't look her in the face and...this is exactly where it happened.

She looks over at the Sandman.

EMILIA: She'd still be alive today if it wasn't for us.
MICHAEL: It was a stupid mistake.
EMILIA: We were in there, cheating on Helena while she drowned. If we'd stayed with her, she'd still be alive today. It's our fault! I know, and so do you. I have to go.

She gets in her car and drives off. Michael looks overwhelmed by guilt.

Tomorrow on Neighbours
- Toadie and Sonya decorating Charlie's.
- Sonya dressing up as Santa in an emergency.
- Kyle and Jade getting it on in the men's shed.
- Karl and Susan get trapped in their storage container and look at old slides.