Previously
- Paul's sudden collapse leads him to decide that Nick should get his cancer research centre after all
- Bailey tells Lauren that Matt died for nothing
- In the well, Daniel tells Imogen that he doesn't see her 'that way'
- Paige calls Imogen a skank for supposedly pursuing Daniel, and pushes her in the swimming pool
No 32
In the back yard, Imogen is still in the swimming pool, shrieking at Paige for pushing her in. Paige just smirks and says that's what she gets for chasing her best friend's fiancé. Getting out of the pool, Imogen tells Paige it's all in her mind. When challenged, she doesn't deny that she's still in love with Daniel, but says she supports his relationship with Amber and that's what matters.
When Paige still doesn't believe Imogen, Imogen decides she needs to cool off - and pushes Paige in the pool!
IMOGEN: Never go through my phone ever again.
Harold's Store
Bailey is helping out Lauren at the store, but she's worried that he didn't have any breakfast, and tries to tempt him with one of Margie's freshly-baked muffins. Bailey's not hungry.
Terese and Brad come in; and while Bailey's outside, Lauren admits to them that she's worried about him, despite having a breakthrough last night. Brad and Terese offer to man the store so that Lauren can spend some time with Bailey. Evidently not trusting long-term employee Margie to run the place on her own, despite her doing so on many such occasions in the past, Lauren agrees to their impromptu proposal. Terese looks worried as Lauren leaves.
The Waterhole
Nick sweet-talks Naomi into giving him an update on the council's progress in determining the fate of his cancer research centre. She says they're still debating whether to let Nick have the building, or whether to give it over to a housing development - and that there's a vote scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Nick can't believe that the council would rather fund a hideous apartment block than find a cure for cancer; Naomi agrees, but says they can't influence the council's decision directly - and all Paul can do is try to talk people round. She tells a persistent Nick that he'll have to ask Paul about whether he's doing that, and leaves.
No 22
Josh is weight-training in the yard when a dried and changed Imogen comes out to join him.
JOSH: Aww, I liked the drowned rat look.
Imogen whinges about Paige being horrible to her, but Josh is fairly unsympathetic - saying Paige is just looking out for Amber, and that Imogen spending so much time with Daniel does look a bit 'sus'.
IMOGEN: We were trapped down a well together - no-one understands what that's like!
Imogen admits Daniel's also been giving her some advice about how to deal with Amber and her grief over Matt. She says that when she and Daniel talked down the well, he made it clear that he's not into her.
JOSH: That must have been rough to hear.
IMOGEN: It was also kind of a relief.
She admits that since escaping the well, she's been able to move on.
JOSH: Well-therapy. Maybe I should give it a go!
IMOGEN: I do not recommend it.
Josh offers to have a chat to Paige; Imogen declines, but says there's definitely something wrong with her.
IMOGEN: I have seen angry Paige, but this was like turbo-charged. I should probably warn Daniel and Amber.
Lassiter's Complex
Lauren is chatting to Bailey outside the store.
LAUREN: I always feel like I'm wagging school, or something - taking a break with my apron on.
BAILEY: You can go back inside if you want, Mum.
LAUREN: That's not what I meant. I know you wish you could talk to your dad one last time. I feel the same way. But maybe we could talk to each other instead?
BAILEY: Do you ever think... things are gonna be normal again?
LAUREN: It's always gonna be different, now that he's not here. But he's still here with us if we talk about him, and we remember him. I was thinking before about how he used to sprinkle sugar over his lattes and then scoop it off with a spoon, and eat it all at once.
BAILEY: What did he say? It was like eating a free cake with his coffee. He was such a dork...!
They laugh over the fond memories.
No 30
Sonya and Nell are back from their trip to the US to see Callum, who's now recovered from his injuries. Danni is at the house, talking to Toadie about the hit-and-run, and mentioning again that it was reading the text from him that distracted her from her driving.
TOADIE: I wish I didn't send it.
Danni explains that the garage is being sold so she can pay for a decent lawyer - and that she'd like it to be Toadie, as she feels she can trust him.
TOADIE: Matt was our friend. They live next door.
DANNI: Toadie, I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't desperate. I'm looking at a prison sentence - I really need your help.
Toadie and Sonya look worried.
Ramsay Street
Daniel and Amber are walking up the street, talking about Paige pushing Imogen in the pool. Amber thinks it's because Paige was annoyed that Imogen hadn't been round to see Amber to support her over Matt's death, but Daniel says it sounds like more than that. Amber reassures Daniel that she doesn't have a problem with him hanging out with Imogen, but says she is worried about Paige.
Their conversation is cut short when they see Danni across the road, leaving No 30. Toadie promises to call her later.
AMBER: How dare she come here?
DANIEL: Come on, let's get inside.
Toadie looks troubled as Danni leaves.
Suite 1 Eclipse Apartments
Naomi is reporting to Paul about all the elements of his life she's organised, when she spots B2 sniffing at an empty saline bag on the floor. Paul's forced to explain about his collapse after she left the other day, and how he had to call Karl when he couldn't reach her or Nick - so that now Karl knows about his condition.
Naomi feels guilty for having left him alone, but Paul insists it's not her fault and is keen to get back to work. However, Naomi has gone into full-blown fusspot mode, and goes to fetch him a water and a herbal tea.
PAUL: Naomi, I said I am fine.
NAOMI: Sit!
Harold's Store
Lauren has come back in, and tells the Willises that Bailey has started to open up to her. Meanwhile at a table, Sonya tells Toadie that he shouldn't feel he has to represent Danni out of a sense of responsibility for sending the text prior to the accident. He says he can't help feel guilty all the same.
TOADIE: And I'm not condoning her actions, but she's not a bad person. She deserves decent representation.
Sonya suggests he call someone from Simmons & Colbert to help Danni instead, but Toadie feels like it should be him. However, he says he'll only do it on the strict proviso that Lauren gives her blessing - and goes over to ask her about it. He explains to Lauren that Danni is definitely pleading guilty, but just wants his help with her plea bargain - adding that it's entirely up to Lauren whether he goes ahead and represents her.
No 32
In the garden, Paige is taking out her troubles on her punch-bag when Josh comes round to talk to her. As he holds the bag for her, he insists Imogen and Daniel are just friends, that she's not after him, and that Amber's okay with them hanging out.
PAIGE: I can tell that Amber's struggling with everything, and it just makes me so angry.
Josh wonders if Paige isn't angry for other reasons, pointing out that it hasn't been the easiest time. Paige admits she feels helpless, and wishes she could do something more for the whole Turner family, given how sad they all are.
JOSH: You know you're allowed to be sad too, don't you?
Paige doesn't respond to that, but resumes her training.
Suite 1 Eclipse Apartments
Nick comes to see Paul, ostensibly to check up on him since his collapse, and also to try and learn more about the council vote. Paul doesn't give anything away on that score, so Nick imparts some further news.
NICK: Your latest blood work came back this morning, and it's bad news, I'm afraid. Your body's stopped responding to the chemotherapy.
PAUL: What about the experimental treatments?
NICK: They're slowing the deterioration of your condition, certainly. But there's only so much I can do without the proper facilities.
Taken aback, Paul asks what happens now. Nick says there aren't many options, but he has a few ideas - he'll do the best with the 'limited resources' he has.
No 30
Toadie is telling Danni that Lauren has agreed to his representing her, but Sonya makes it clear that it was a hard sell. Danni thanks Toadie, and he says they should now try to reduce her sentence by seeking character references.
SONYA: What about the statement that Chris wrote for Josh - would something like that help from the Turners?
TOADIE: In theory, yes, but I don't think Lauren would be up for that.
Toadie tells Danni to think about asking past employers, and friends in positions of responsibility, for references, which the judge would have to take into account.
DANNI: What's the worst-case scenario?
TOADIE: Worst case is ten years.
Suite 1 Eclipse Apartments
A deflated Paul has told Naomi the bad news about the chemotherapy failing. He says that if only the cancer research centre had the go-ahead, he'd be first on the list for treatment there - but admits the council vote seems to be swinging in favour of the housing development. Paul asks Naomi to contact Tim Collins, his lawyer, and ask for him to send over a copy of his will as he needs to update it. But Naomi insists he should get to the council and start bending the ears of the 'fence-sitting' councillors, to ensure the vote goes the other way.
PAUL: Have you any idea of the bun-fight that will erupt over my assets if I do not have the proper arrangements in place?
NAOMI: You're not gonna need a will, okay? Because you're not gonna die. Yet.
She agrees to call Tim Collins, but says she's first going to arrange a meeting for Paul with the councillors.
The Waterhole
Amber and Imogen are talking about Paige's accusations that Imogen is after Daniel. Amber insists she doesn't believe that, and says Paige was out of line. At that moment, Paige herself turns up, and apologises to Imogen for how she's behaved.
PAIGE: The past few weeks have been really rough, for the people I love. What Amber went through with her wedding, and then - and then Matt. And knowing that there was nothing I could do about it. And I guess I took it out on you.
IMOGEN: You don't think that maybe things have been a bit rough on you as well?
PAIGE: I didn't get stood up at my wedding. And I didn't lose my dad.
IMOGEN: You didn't fall down a well (!)
PAIGE: You were the idiot who went down there in the first place!
Paige says she believes that Imogen isn't pursuing Daniel, and the three girls agree that the Sisterhood is back in action.
Harold's Store
Lauren is pleased to hear that Bailey's had two of Margie's delicious muffins, and says it's good to see him smiling again.
BAILEY: I'm sorry about being such a downer before.
LAUREN: You're just being a boy who's lost his dad.
But the happier mood is soon ruined when Danni comes in. Brad tries to get her to leave, but Lauren wants to hear what she has to say. Danni thanks Lauren for giving Toadie the go-ahead to represent her, but wants to ask another favour.
BAILEY: She doesn't have to do anything for you.
LAUREN: What is it?
DANNI: I'm going to jail for what I've done. I know that, and I know it's what I deserve. The reason I engaged Toadie is in the hope of reducing my sentence. Something that would be much more likely if - if you would consider writing me a personal character reference.
LAUREN: ... A reference?!
DANNI: I know it's a big ask. But if you could find it in your heart to help me, I will repay you. Please.
LAUREN: Are you crazy?! You can never repay me. You killed my husband; you took away the father of my children! And now you want me to help you?!
Lauren is shouting now, so Brad intervenes, and tells Danni to beat it. But Bailey is first out of the door, despite Lauren's pleas. Terese says she'll mind the store, while Brad goes after Lauren. But before he does, he tells Danni that he never wants to see her here again. Danni looks worried.
Lassiter's Lake
Brad watches from a distance as Lauren talks to an upset Bailey. She apologises to him for having to see her lash out like that.
BAILEY: Danni deserved it. She took - she took Dad away from us.
LAUREN: Darling, why don't we just go home and talk about this?
BAILEY: No, I'm sick of talking.
He walks off, and Brad tells Lauren to let him go. She expresses her annoyance at how Danni turned up and ruined things, just when Bailey was making progress.
LAUREN: I can't believe she asked me for a reference.
BRAD: Yeah, she was way out of line. They're the actions of a scared and desperate woman.
LAUREN: I'm scared too.
Brad physically comforts Lauren, while Terese watches unseen from the bushes.
LAUREN: I used to have these flashes of dread, imagining what it'd be like if Matt got killed on the job. But they were just moments. Surrounded by life - life where we used to be together, and we used to be happy. And now I just - I have that feeling of dread all day long.
Hugging her, Brad assures Lauren that those feelings will pass with time.
LAUREN: What if that's worse?
Terese is still watching, and looking worried.
Accident Site
Bailey sits tearfully next to Matt's roadside shrine, reading the cards and tributes from well-wishers, which just makes him cry more. He again feels an instinctive need to be rid of the shrine, but this time starts piling the cards and flowers into a bin-bag. He doesn't get far, before he stops and breaks down in tears again.
No 30
Danni is reporting back to Toadie about her encounter with Lauren. He's annoyed that she went and spoke to her, and insists she concentrate on character references from others.
DANNI: I remembered something else, about the accident. It might change things.
TOADIE: What?
DANNI: When I was driving, I saw Brad and Matt up ahead. They were angry, arguing.
TOADIE: Yes, yes, we know. Brad Willis has already admitted to arguing with Matt in his statement.
DANNI: Yeah, well it wasn't just an argument. It got pretty heated.
TOADIE: As in physical?
DANNI: (nods)
TOADIE: You had your head down, you said you were texting me. So how did you see?
DANNI: I must have glanced up.
TOADIE: Okay... So, what exactly did you see?
DANNI: They were arguing, on the footpath at first. But then they were on the road.
TOADIE: Are you saying that Matt, or Brad, or both of them, stepped out in front of your vehicle?
DANNI: (nods) What If I'm only partially to blame for this? Does that change things for me?
Toadie looks a little incredulous.
Unmissable Drama
- Toadie reports back to Lauren and Brad
- Danni tells Mark that the entire thing could unravel if there are holes in the witness's story
- Mark talks to Lauren about inconsistencies in Brad's story
- Brad insists to Mark that Danni is to blame for the accident
- Brad continues to comfort Lauren
- Terese voices her concerns about it to Nick, who advises her to protect her interests
- Paul tells Karl that Nick has told him the chemo is no longer working