Robinson's Motel
Charlie is helping Steph with the housekeeping at the motel, when Paul turns up. He's just had a meeting with his lawyer, who apparently still isn't prepared for the trial, which starts tomorrow. Paul thinks it's because the lawyer knows he doesn't stand a chance of being found innocent.

STEPH: No, no, no! You've got to fight!
PAUL: Why are you so worried? I've already handed over my share of the motel to you.
STEPH: I care, because you're innocent.
PAUL: Yeah, well, you're the only one who thinks so.

Steph points out that Paul's sister, Lucy, wouldn't have bailed him out otherwise - but Paul says that's only because Steph called Lucy and begged her. Steph tells Paul to sack his lawyer and look after Charlie for a while; she has an idea.

Cue titles - incorporating some rare mid-week changes prompted by Nate's departure. The previous shot of Aaron, Steph and Sheila is replaced with a new Steph/Sheila shot, while the Mark/Tyler/Nate shot is replaced by a returning shot of Mark, Tyler and Aaron (previously only seen in the UK at the end of 2015).

No 30
Sonya is on the phone (presumably to a journalist) saying she has no comment about the trial. Nell comes in, and another journalist calls, to whom Sonya gives the same response. Walter shows up, ready to go to an AA meeting with Sonya - but Sonya had totally forgotten. She explains she's having to work from home, because Nell isn't feeling well.

Walter offers to look after Nell while Sonya focuses on her work. She agrees, and Nell goes to the kitchen with Walter to get some breakfast.

No 24
Aaron shows Tom Quill into the back yard. He asks Tom why he thinks Xanthe stole his $10,000. Tom explains that Xanthe had a catering box delivered to his suite on the morning of the explosion, despite his assistant cancelling the order - so Xanthe would have known he wouldn't be there. He's also seen all her new outfits on her social media accounts, and has put two and two together.

Tom says he's come to Aaron because Xanthe's website said he was her manager. But Aaron is suspicious as to why Tom hasn't gone to the cops, suspecting that the money is therefore dodgy.

TOM: What can I say? I don't like cards; I like the feel of spending cash.
AARON: Yeah, I remember.

Tom says he doesn't want a drawn-out investigation if he can handle it himself.

TOM: Besides, you seem pretty protective of Xanthe. You wouldn't want her getting in trouble with the law, hmm?

Aaron looks worried as Tom walks away.

No 30
Toadie comes in to find Nell having a lot of fun playing with Walter in the living room. Toadie asks Sonya if she's crazy letting him near her, reminding her that Walter was on a bender yesterday. Sonya points out that she's supervising them, and that she said she'd support Walter. Toadie doesn't seem happy nonetheless.

Steph rushes in; she has a favour to ask Toadie. She wants him to defend Paul!

TOADIE: That's totally out of the question, no!
STEPH: Come on! Paul could go to jail for years, you know that.
TOADIE: His trial is tomorrow. You want me to take on a case this complicated, literally overnight?

Steph says Toadie knows the case, and that there's enough evidence to create reasonable doubt.

TOADIE: Well, you defend him then!
STEPH: Come on, Toad. You know I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe with all my heart that Paul's being framed.

Toadie still looks incredulous, as Steph tries to persuade him to at least meet with Paul.

No 32
In the garden, Ned is swimming, while Lauren is sketching Brad. She asks him to take his shoes off and dip his feet in the water.

BRAD: I suppose you want me to take my shirt off next!
LAUREN: Yeah, that'd be great!

Ned listens in from the pool, and he and Lauren exchange a look. Terese turns up; she wants to 'go over a few things' with Brad in preparation for Paul's trial. Lauren goes to make a drink for them all, but Terese pointedly suggests it's best if she and Brad do this in private. Lauren agrees, but looks frustrated.

Ned gets out of the pool and offers to replace Brad as Lauren's sketch model! She politely declines.

NED: You know, you actually have nothing to worry about with him.
LAUREN: You've changed your tune.
NED: They've just got a lot to discuss, about the trial.

But Lauren is still looking insecure.

No 26
Aaron is confronting Xanthe about Tom's accusation that she stole his $10,000.

XANTHE: That's crazy.
AARON: He knows you were in his hotel room.
XANTHE: Yes. I was delivering his Harold's catering box.
AARON: Oh, right. After you knew that he'd already cancelled the order?
XANTHE: ... Yes. I didn't want to waste it. You know, got to look after the environment. So I just thought I'd leave it there, for when he got back. And then I left, straight away, and went to go meet Ben in Eden Hills. We were watching a movie - Captain America. That's where I was when the explosion happened.
AARON: At the movies?
XANTHE: Yep. Really good make-up. ScarJo's hair was incredible; I was actually considering going red for a while.
AARON: Hmm. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Captain America wasn't even out then.
XANTHE: ... Mmm. Must have been a preview, then.

Aaron says Xanthe's story won't fool Tom; he can help her, but only if he knows the whole truth. Xanthe looks worried.

Shortly afterwards, Aaron has gone, and Xanthe has summoned Ben and Angus to formulate an action plan. Ben tells Angus he'll have to give back the money he took; Xanthe is surprised, as Angus had told her he'd already given it back to Ben. Xanthe says that if they take back the stuff Angus has bought they might get refunds - but Ben's sceptical they'd refund the worn shoes.

Ben says they have about $6,000 that they can give back to Tom, which might buy them some time. But Xanthe's forced to admit she's blown her half of the money on the deposit for the cosmetic surgery, which is non-refundable. Ben's despondent - now Tom will go to the police for sure, he says.

No 30
While Sonya works, Walter is playing a song for Nell on a miniature guitar, to the tune of 'Pop Goes the Weasel'.

WALTER (singing): Can a clam be crammed in a can? / The mongoose mumbles 'maybe' / The slimy snail slides into your sock...
NELL: Yours!!
WALTER (singing): Pop goes the baby!

Sonya asks Walter if he wrote the words; he admits he did. He sings it again; Nell likes the song.

No 26
Xanthe, Ben and Angus have been rejoined by Aaron, who's concerned by the paltry sum that's left of the $10,000. Aaron warns them that Tom already knows Xanthe was in his room; if he keeps digging, he'll find out Ben and Angus are involved too, as well as Piper with the laptop Ben bought her with the stolen cash.

Aaron says it's time to go to the cops; they'll be in trouble but at least they'll be protected. Ben says he has a criminal record; he could go to jail if he's charged for stealing the money. Xanthe tells Aaron there must be another way.

Harold's Café
Toadie is working at a table. Steph and Paul come in with Charlie, who is sent to the counter to buy some lunch. Toadie's annoyed to see Paul, who is meant to be confined to the hotel - but Steph says they've been granted a special allowance so he can see his lawyer!

TOADIE: Woah. No, no - I said I'd think about it, and that's it.

But Steph produces a dossier containing everything Paul's come up with in his defence, saying it might help with Toadie's decision. Steph begs him to have a look at it before making up his mind.

TOADIE: Why should I give you the benefit of the doubt? Or even the time of day?
PAUL: Look, I realise I've done some dreadful things in the past. But I did not do this.
TOADIE: Okay. I will look over the material. But I am not promising anything.

Terese comes in, and is horrified to see Toadie meeting with Paul.

TERESE: What's going on?

Lassiter's Complex
Terese storms out of Harold's, followed by Toadie.

TERESE: You don't actually think he's innocent, do you?!
TOADIE: I haven't said that I'm doing it. And as a lawyer, that actually doesn't matter.
TERESE: Oh, right. Well for somebody who supposedly cares about my family, that should be the only thing that matters.
TOADIE: I am not taking this lightly.
TERESE: You know, if you had any sense of justice, you'd do everything in your power to make sure that Paul gets locked away for good. I mean, am I the only...

Terese stops her rant suddenly. Lauren watches the exchange as she clears tables.

TERESE: You know what? Don't worry about it. Forget it. You just do what you think you need to do.

As she walks away from Toadie, Lauren asks Terese if she can help her in any way given all the stress of the trial - and offers to cook her dinner tonight, so that she and Brad can relax. Terese curtly thanks Lauren, but tells her that Brad's actually coming over to her place in the evening, as they have a lot to talk about. Lauren looks worried as Terese walks away.

No 30
Sonya has put Nell to bed, as she's still not feeling well. Walter is making a 'fairy-trap' for Nell out of an old tennis racquet, so they can play with it in the garden later. Sonya thanks Walter for looking after Nell today while she had to work, and asks him again about the song he was singing earlier.

SONYA: You used to play that for me when I was little, didn't you?
WALTER: Yeah. I thought you would have forgotten.
SONYA: No, I do - I remember. We were camping, we were sitting around a fire - you had a guitar...
WALTER: And you made up a little dance to go with it. Do you remember that?
SONYA: Yes, I do, but I'm not demonstrating it, so don't ask me! But just hearing it again, it reminded me of - of just how much fun we used to have. You know, Jade and I, we would just laugh and laugh, until it hurt. And Dad and Mum, and... You know she really loved you.
WALTER: And I really loved her too. But we shouldn't have acted upon it. Although, now we have you as a result. And Nell. I could never regret that.

Sonya smiles.

No 24
Aaron and Tom meet in the back yard again. Aaron hands Tom the money the teens had left, but there's only about $1,500. Tom gives him two weeks to raise the other $8,500 - plus $1,500 interest!

TOM: Otherwise I'll take it up with Xanthe myself.
AARON: No, you leave Xanthe out of this. This is on me now.
TOM: Fine, if that's how you want it. But the clock's ticking.

Tom walks off, leaving Aaron looking worried.

No 30 / Ramsay Street
Toadie and Sonya watch out of the window as Walter and Nell search the front garden for fairies - using the fairy-catcher that Walter has made! Toadie talks to Sonya about Paul's case; he says Paul's defence is a compelling argument, but doesn't stand much of a chance in court. Sonya says it's not about winning the case, but Paul getting fair representation.

TOADIE: Well, regardless of that, how can I walk down this street, knowing that I've helped the person that has hurt us all so much?

Sonya tells him to take a step back emotionally; Toadie's a great lawyer, she says, and chose to become one for a reason. If Paul was rushed to the hospital for a medical emergency, Karl wouldn't hesitate to treat him, she argues; this is just the same thing.

SONYA: So despite what you or me or anyone else in the street thinks of Paul personally, professionally I think you know what the right decision is.

No 26
Aaron tells Xanthe, Ben and Angus that Tom wants $10,000 from them in two weeks - but that if they fail, Tom will come after Aaron, as he's convinced him to leave them out of it. They start brainstorming ideas to get the cash together; Ben could do some tutoring, says Xanthe, and Angus suggests they charge other pupils in exchange for writing their assignments.

BEN: That's kind of dishonest.
ANGUS: Desperate measures.
BEN: If we're so desperate, why don't you get your loaded dad to give us a few bucks, huh?
ANGUS: Yeah, great idea. Cos he'll be on the phone to Karl and Susan by teatime.

Xanthe says they need to be smart and 'maybe a little bit sneaky', but will find the cash somehow. Aaron doesn't look convinced.

No 30
Walter brings Nell back in following their fairy hunt!

WALTER: We didn't catch any fairies, but Nell did hear one singing!
SONYA: Oh, how lovely!

Sonya thanks Walter again for being so great with Nell, after Sonya bailed on their AA meeting. He says it's been his pleasure. She also apologises for being hot-and-cold with him since he arrived, saying she's behaved unfairly towards him at times. But Walter says he's in no position to judge how Sonya has responded to him returning to her life after 20 years.

SONYA: It's just, I've always been someone who's never had parents, and...
WALTER: And that's my fault.
SONYA: Well, no, it's not about blame. Let's just stop that. It's just - realising that I have a father, it's just gonna take a bit of time to get used to.
WALTER: Yeah, of course - of course.
SONYA: But if there's another day where I'm run off my feet, it would be great if you could maybe come and help me.

Walter says he would love that, and Nell appears to concur! They decide to sing another round of 'Pop Goes the Baby', and this time Sonya does her dance! Nell enjoys it so much that she decides to join in with the dance for the next sing-through.

No 32
Lauren is cleaning the pool, and talking to Ned. She admits she doesn't understand why Brad and Terese are being so evasive. Ned says they're under a lot of pressure, and adds that Lauren can trust Brad with Terese - he knows that now.

LAUREN: It's not an affair I'm worried about. It's just after everything we've been through, I hate all this secrecy.

Lauren decides she's going over to Terese's to find out what's going on. But Ned tries to persuade her not to, and Lauren guesses that he knows something.

LAUREN: Ned, what is going on? If you know something, you have to tell me. Ned!
NED: Terese is paying someone to give a false testimony.
LAUREN: What?! No, no - Brad would never be so dishonest.
NED: Brad's on board with it. That's what they've been discussing this whole time.

Lauren is upset, and says she has to put a stop to it. But Ned says she can't say anything to anyone.

No 22
Terese and Brad look at a photo of Josh and Doug; Brad tells her that they are going to get justice for them tomorrow.

TERESE: Yeah. Yeah, maybe.

No 30
Paul tells Steph he'll be behind bars this time tomorrow, and he isn't sure he can go through being in jail again - but she tells him to stay positive. Toadie comes in to join them, with Paul's dossier.

TOADIE: Now, I have read this cover-to-cover. And I have given it a lot of thought.
PAUL: Don't keep us in suspense.
TOADIE: I've decided that I will take on your case.
STEPH: Oh, Toad, thank you!
TOADIE: No. Don't celebrate. I have one condition. I will only represent you, if you plead guilty.
PAUL: Guilty?! Are you kidding?!
TOADIE: I believe that you did not mean to kill two people. But you certainly caused the explosion.
PAUL: I did not cause -
TOADIE: The evidence suggests that, and Cecilia Saint's testimony is going to confirm it. Now, I've spoken with the judge and the prosecution. And I can get you a reduced sentence.
PAUL: Jarrod, I am innocent!
TOADIE: Paul, if you do not want to spend the rest of your life in jail, I suggest you take the plea. It is your only hope.

Promo
- The photo of Josh and Doug in close- up
- At the Supreme Court, the judge asks Paul how he pleads
- Terese turns up, and Paul looks sadly at her
- Lauren tries to persuade Terese to tell Cecilia to change her story - she's so much better than this
- Lauren, Brad and Ned at court, looking worried
- Toadie and Paul outside the court. Toadie says this could get really ugly
- Cecilia tells Terese she won't let her down
- As Cecilia gives her evidence, Paul accuses her of lying