Previously on Neighbours
Jessica and Karl break up
Tash finds out that Michael and Emilia were 'together' while Helena died
Tash sets fire to Michael's car
Michael lies to the police that he accidently set fire to the car
Tash tells Michael she doesn't want anything from him, ever.
Number 32
Michael returns home and sits down on the sofa while Tash's voice echoes through his head, saying how he stuffed up and lied to her etc. Emilia enters and Michael tells her that the police believed his story and that Lucas won't be charged. She asks if anything else happened.
MICHAEL: I don't think Tash and I are coming back from this.
Number 28
Emilia comes around to see Tash. Summer gives the two of them some space to talk. Tash asks if Emilia only came back to see Dad, but she says she hadn't planned this.
EMILIA: You're right if I hadn't come back into your life you would never have found out the truth.
TASH: So I should be thanking you!
EMILIA: No, that's not what I meant.
TASH: No you're right. If you hadn't come back into our lives, if I hadn't found you, then I'd still be living with that guy who is happy to keep lying to me. So thank you. I mean it, thank you for showing me what a pathetic loser my dad is. You two deserve each other.
Tash takes off her bracelet and gives it to her, telling Emilia to leave and not come back.
Lassiters Lake
A group of runners are gathered for the Erinsborough Hospital charity run. Jade asks how Aidan managed to get out of it, he says he's organising it but promises to give her a victory dance if she comes first. Karl arrives and Jade complements him on his running gear
JADE: I must say I'm a little disappointed in you. I can't laugh and point at you now you're in proper running gear.
KARL: I'm sure you'll find a way.
As Jessica walks past, Karl wishes her good luck. She doesn't respond and walks on. Rhys tells Karl that Jessica has been giving him a hard time at work because she's in a bad mood. He tells Karl that he should let Jessica beat him in order to put her in a good mood.
Harold's
Paul asks Lucas about the police questioning him. Lucas says they'll be knocking on Paul's door next, but Paul comments that his grudge against Michael is nothing compared to Lucas's bizarre love triangle. (Yes that's it... that's Paul's contribution to this episode.)
Number 32
Emilia looks at the bracelet she had given to Tash. Emilia's now hearing Tash laughing on an annoying incessant loop (which is quite freaky for us the viewer but seems to move Emilia to tears.) At the same time, blue flashback images of Tash appear on the screen beside Emilia. Emilia calls her mother and speaks to her in Serbian. She asks to come home and starts crying.
(Later)
Emilia is packing a bag, putting Tash's bracelet off her wrist and leaving it on the table. Michael returns from a walk and tells Emilia they just need to give Tash time and she'll come around.
EMILIA: Every time Tash sees us, sees me, she sees what we did.
MICHAEL: Some time will fix that
EMILIA: You're never going to fix things while I'm still here.
Emilia tells Michael she's visiting her parents in Serbia, and she's booked a flight. Michael begs her to stay as he needs her, but she's already decided.
Ramsay Street
Michael says goodbye to Emilia as she heads to her car, her flight is later tonight. Michael wishes there was something he could say to make her change her mind. He tells her he loves her, she loves him too. They kiss, holding back the tears.
EMILIA: Fix things with your daughter.
She reverses out of the driveway, pausing for a moment before driving off.
Lassiters Lake
Summer arrives with her camera to see the charity run, Tash along with her. Tash complements Karl that he looks like an actual runner. She tells Karl that now he looks like a winner, he should let Jessica beat him so she gets to win. While Rhys agrees with Tash, Karl is left confused. The runners all line up. One of the patients starts the air horn, and the runners race off. Tash and Summer sit down on a bench in the rotunda. Summer tells Tash to speak to Michael.
Ramsay Street
Summer and Tash arrive in Ramsay Street, Summer leaves Tash so she can go and speak to Michael who is waiting on the porch of Number 32. Michael tells Tash that Emilia's gone back to Serbia.
MICHAEL: I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. Nothing can make up for what I've done, I know that. I love you Tash
TASH: I know you do. But it's too late.
MICHAEL: No, you need time, I get that, but it's not too late
TASH: Everything I've ever known about myself has been built on lies.
Tash tells Michael that she doesn't know who she is, but she knows she doesn't need a dad. She tells Michael if he wants to fix things he should leave her alone.
Lassiters Lake
Jade finishes the race in third placed for females. Jade is disappointed but at least she beat Rhys. As Karl approaches he falls down in pain cradling his foot, with a cramp. Aidan comes to help, telling Karl he's over playing it a bit, but Karl insists his pain is real and he isn't trying to throw the race. Jessica runs past, Karl tells her to finish the race, but insists he is in genuine pain, while she rolls her eyes at him.
The Gym
Jade leaves the changing room, not wearing her bronze medal she won. Aidan and Rhys joke about her, a personal trainer, being beaten. Karl enters and asks where Jessica is, again insisting that he didn't throw the race. As Jessica leaves the changing room, Karl tries to speak to her. He tells her that he didn't try and throw the race. As Jessica tries to leave, Karl lays into Jessica for ignoring him since the break up and tells her she shouldn't be holding a grudge. Jessica explains that her aunt had an accident and she has to go and look after her.
KARL: I'm sorry I didn't realise
JESSICA: You didn't realise because it was none of your business. We went on three dates, that's it. Don't make it out to be any more than what it was.
Karl looks over and sees Rhys, Aidan and Jade watching. The three of them give Karl a round of applause.
Charlie's
Lucas confronts Michael about letting the police think that he had set fire to his car. Michael insists he was protecting his daughter. He tells Lucas that Emilia's gone and Tash has cut him off.
MICHAEL: I'm doing the best I can
LUCAS: That is the most deluded piece of crap I have ever heard. Tash made the smartest move of her life. She saved herself the grief of having you as her dad.
Charlie's Exterior
Michael sits outside thinking. He overhears Tash and Summer chatting to Karl. Michael stands up and leaves while Tash sees him walking away.
Number 32
Tash enters the house and finds Emilia's bracelet on the table. She notices that one of the photos has been removed from its frame. She sits down on the sofa and finds a note from Michael.
MICHAEL (voice over):
'Dear Tash,
This is the hardest decision I've ever made in my life, but seeing you today and listening to what you said, I know it's the right decision. You said you needed space and you said the only way we stood any chance of fixing what's happened is time apart. You were right. I'm leaving with Emilia. I know how hard this is for you, but I'm doing this for both of us. And even though I'm not there, if you do ever want to talk to me again, I want you to know that you can always call me, always. I love you more than anything else in the world, and that's why I have to leave.
Dad'
Elsewhere
Michael sits on a bench while Emilia pulls up in her car. They put Michael's bag in the boot and get in the car together, driving off.
Number 32
Tash breaks down in tears.
Tomorrow on Neighbours
- Tash tells Chris that Michael's gone and he isn't coming back.
- Rhys talks to Kate about the dare to get between Kyle and Jade.
