No 24
A drunken Elly stumbles in; we see some bedclothes waiting on the sofa, presumably so Mark can sleep there again. Elly stumbles towards the bedroom.

Erinsborough Hospital
The next day, Finn and Shaun are having breakfast in the hospital courtyard. Shaun has brought Finn a laptop, cleared by the police, so he can watch movies and keep abreast of what's going on in the world. Susan turns up, and asks how Finn's getting on; he says he's still coming to terms with things.

The police have told him that he's to be denied bail, he explains, which is no surprise; and his sentencing has been set for 18 April.

FINN: When they read out those charges... I hated myself. I don't deserve anything you've done for me.
SUSAN: It's a difficult time.
SHAUN: I can't imagine Karl's happy about you being here?
SUSAN: Have you organised a lawyer?
SHAUN: We've got someone taking on the case pro bono.
SUSAN: Do you think they're up to the job?
FINN: She's... keen.

Susan offers to talk to the lawyer for them, but Shaun is keen to put her off, turning the conversation back to Finn's physical recovery. Susan helps Finn as he struggles to his walking frame from the chair. Shaun gets a message, and says there's something he needs to take care of, so he has to rush off. Susan offers to take Finn to rehab in his stead.

Harold's Café
David, Chloe and Aaron are having coffee. David gets a message from Lauren, and excitedly tells the others that she's accepted his and Aaron's offer on Number 32 - they're buying their own place! She's agreed to a one-month settlement, and says they can move in next week as the Rebecchis have already moved out.

CHLOE: You can spill without fear! No more tiptoeing around Mark's clean-freakiness!
AARON: Oh, I've forgotten what it's like to just let the dishes pile up overnight.

Aaron suggests that Chloe could move in with them, as they need tenants in order to afford the mortgage. But Chloe isn't keen; she doesn't want to be running into Mark and Elly in the street (whereas running into them at the Lassiter's Complex is presumably fine).

No 28
Karl is tinkering in the greenhouse, when Susan appears. She tells Karl she's been to the hospital to see Finn, which he isn't thrilled about, and that he's being sentenced in a couple of weeks.

KARL: Glad to hear it.
SUSAN: Well, he needs support from someone.
KARL: Yes, which is why I've called Claudia Watkins.

Susan is not pleased.

SUSAN: Karl, you know how his mother feels about him. She was barely there when he was growing up; she didn't pay the ransom when he was kidnapped in Colombia. And you certainly know what happened to him there. It's her fault that he became the man he did.
KARL: Susan!
SUSAN: She even blames him for her husband's heart attack! You know all of these things, Karl; why would you call her?
KARL: Well, maybe things have changed. Why else would she get straight on a plane from Switzerland?
SUSAN: What? She's coming?
KARL: Yes - yes. Today. You need some distance.
SUSAN: Nah. You have just stirred up a hornet's nest. Have you even considered how this is going to affect Finn's recovery?
KARL: Look - whatever is driving your need to help Finn, whether it's guilt or compassion, it's not healthy.
SUSAN: Shouldn't I be the judge of that?
KARL: Claudia arrives today. I'll brief her on what she's been missing, then I'll hand the baton to her.

Lassiter's
Chloe tells Shaun he's booked Claudia into one of the executive suites. Shaun warns her that his mum has high expectations.

SHAUN: I'm the golden boy, but it's not as much fun as it sounds.

Claudia gets out of a car, warning the porter to be careful with her luggage, and demanding that Chloe send a masseuse to her room straight away after the long flight. Chloe bustles off to find her some rejuvenating bath salts. Claudia hugs Shaun.

CLAUDIA: You awful child! I was worried half to death!
SHAUN: I told you I was taking time out to travel.
CLAUDIA: First you abandon me at Christmas - which I'm still not over, by the way - and then you hotfoot it off to Afghanistan while I'm still waiting to see you.
SHAUN: Mum!
CLAUDIA: Then I offer you an exciting project to manage, and you disappear off the face of the earth!
SHAUN: I've been checking in with you.
CLAUDIA: It's not surprising that you're here again. But you should have told me. I had to find out from Dr Kennedy.

Shaun is surprised that Claudia's here at Karl's request, but when he asks what he said to her, Claudia just replies that she needs to freshen up - they'll meet with Karl later.

No 24
A hung over Elly swallows some painkillers, and pours herself a strong coffee. Mark comes in and sees it, reminding her that coffee's on the not-recommended list for pregnancy. Elly puts it down, and says she just wasn't thinking. Mark notices Elly's pale and sweaty; she says she must be getting ill. Mark decides it's morning sickness, and hurries her to the couch with a promise of ginger tea.

MARK: Dehydration lowers amniotic fluid. And we don't want that for the baby, do we?
ELLY (flatly): No, we don't.

Elly asks if Mark wants to watch TV with her, but he says he's meeting Aaron at The Shed for a workout - perhaps later. Elly looks disappointed.

Erinsborough Hospital
Susan is back to see Finn. He's all dressed up smartly in anticipation of Claudia's arrival, and seems excited at the prospect.

FINN: All my life, I've wanted a relationship with her. To have a mum, like everyone else. But she never wanted anything to do with me.
SUSAN: Yeah, Shaun filled us in.
FINN: I could never understand it. What did I do to make her hate me so much?
SUSAN: Maybe things will be different now.
FINN: She's made no effort to come and see me till now. Would you mind helping me with these buttons? It's ridiculous, but I still want to look nice for her.
SUSAN: Of course you do. This is gonna be a really good opportunity for both of you.

Susan helps him button his shirt cuffs.

FINN: I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Harold's Café
Despite lamenting the loss of protein smoothies on tap with Aaron's departure, Mark asserts that he 'stoked' for Aaron getting his own place with David. But he admits that it's been good to have Aaron around while he figures things out with Elly. Aaron suggests that the extra space might be good for the situation, as Mark might start to let Elly in a bit more.

MARK: I don't think it's that simple.
AARON: It could be. Surely the pregnancy is bringing you guys together again?
MARK: In some ways, I guess (...) But at the moment, I can't even bring myself to touch her.
AARON: Oh. That's rough.
MARK: I'm struggling to see any way past it, if I'm being completely honest.

But Aaron reminds Mark that last week, he was determined to get an annulment - and now Elly's living with him again, and Mark's wearing his wedding ring.

AARON: I'm just saying, anything's possible.

Aaron tells Mark not to think about it, and just to act - as getting up close and personal is 'exactly what you guys need'.

Ramsay Street
Susan meets Elly in the street, and starts ranting about how Karl called Finn's mum Claudia, saying it was 'totally irresponsible'.

SUSAN: What kind of parent could she possibly be to him now?
ELLY: Well, we don't know her story. Maybe she got into a bad situation she couldn't get out of? I dunno - maybe she feels bad about that.
SUSAN: There is *no* excuse for what she did. When you're a parent, you'll understand.
ELLY: Obviously it's your choice if you're involved with Finn at all, but I want nothing to do with him or his family.
SUSAN: No - that's, that's fair enough.

Susan asks how things are going with Mark; Elly says he's being really supportive. Susan says she's proud of how they've both turned things around after a tumultuous time. Elly doesn't seem so sure.

SUSAN: Have faith. If I know one thing about Mark, it's that he's going to be a terrific father.
ELLY: Yeah. He wants it so bad.
SUSAN: Well, just focus on that. Put all your energy into him and the baby - the rest will follow.

Lassiter's
Karl is chatting with Claudia in the foyer. Claudia says she's glad Karl called, saying she's been desperately worried about 'my son'.

Erinsborough Hospital
Finn is sorting out his hair in the mirror, and looking anxiously out of the window of his hospital room for his mother. A woman passes, but it's not her. Finn looks disappointed.

Lassiter's
Karl offers to give Claudia a lift to the hospital, to see Finn.

CLAUDIA: Oh, I think there's been some misunderstanding. I'm only here to collect Shaun.

Erinsborough Hospital
We cut back to Finn, fiddling nervously with his shirt buttons.

Lassiter's
Claudia reminds Karl that she had very little to do with Finn when he was growing up.

CLAUDIA: And before you judge me, my husband - my late husband - he always saw the darkness in him. Even as a small boy, Errol would say, 'he's gonna do something terrible one day'.
KARL: That's quite a prediction.
CLAUDIA: And it came true. We did our best to keep Shaun safe. But he wanted to get to know his brother. And look where that landed him - in South America, being tortured by vigilantes.
KARL: Yes. My wife believes that was a catalyst for the crimes he later committed.
CLAUDIA: Finn was always trouble. Your wife is being manipulated.
KARL: Yes. There have been quite some debates in our house.
CLAUDIA: It gives me no pleasure to say this - Finn is a psychopath. You need to protect your wife, the same as I need to protect Shaun.

Erinsborough Hospital
Finn continues to sit on his bed, sadly waiting for Claudia.

Lassiter's
Shaun joins Karl and Claudia in reception. Claudia says there's nothing either she or Shaun can do for Finn, but Karl says she can't just wash her hands of this.

CLAUDIA: You have no idea what our family has been through.
KARL: I can well imagine. But the key word here is 'family'. Finn is yours, whether you like it or not.
SHAUN: He's in a bad way, Mum. Dr Kennedy's wife has been really supportive. But it's not her job; it's yours and mine.
CLAUDIA: I know you have a kind heart; but have you forgotten what he's done?
SHAUN: Finn thinks he's nineteen. He's not the man who did those things.
CLAUDIA: Even if I believed that, he's still the same person and he will do those things again.
KARL: I don't think Finn is in a position to harm anyone at the moment.
CLAUDIA: Do you think any one of us should really take that risk?
SHAUN: If you don't see him, I won't come back.
CLAUDIA: What are you talking about?
SHAUN: I mean it. I'm not coming home with you, now or ever. The choice is yours, Mum.

Harold's Café
Aaron and David are discussing décor for No 32. Aaron is more interested than David, who thinks Aaron's ideas are expensive. Conversation turns to finding tenants to finance the mortgage, never mind all the Nordic furniture Aaron has his eye on; they're going to advertise, but Aaron is keen not to have any 'weirdos' moving in.

The Waterhole
Aaron and David track down Chloe and pester her again into moving in. She still isn't keen, for the same reasons stated earlier, but they browbeat her with promises of the pool, spa and karaoke Thursdays. She's still worried about running into Mark and Elly in Ramsay Street, but they tell her it will be a good step towards improving relations with Mark.

CHLOE: You've convinced me. Bring on the Brennaka Party Palace!

Chloe decides they should celebrate with cocktails in The City™, but the boys aren't keen - so she decides they can save it for the housewarming party.

Erinsborough Hospital
Shaun, Claudia and Karl arrive to see Finn; Shaun says she's doing the right thing.

CLAUDIA: It's not like you gave me much choice.

But when she sees Finn sitting outside the doors waiting for her, Claudia decides...

CLAUDIA: I can't do this.
SHAUN: It's gonna be okay.
CLAUDIA: No, it's not.
FINN: Mum?
CLAUDIA: I'm sorry.

Claudia doubles back and walks away quickly. Finn hobbles onto the pavement on his walking frame, but loses his balance and falls to the ground. Karl and Shaun rush to his aid.

FINN (shouting): Come back! Mum! Please!

No 24
Elly comes in and is surprised to find Mark at home, as he has a shift soon.

MARK: Actually, there's something I've got to do that's more important.

He kisses her passionately, which makes her day.

ELLY: I love you so much.

She kisses him back - but Mark begins to back away.

MARK: I thought I was ready, but I'm not.
ELLY: It's okay. We can take things slow.
MARK: It feels wrong.
ELLY: Please, don't say that.
MARK: I'm sorry. I... I can't touch you. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to again.

Elly reels, as Mark walks away.

Erinsborough Hospital
Karl is having a coffee with Finn. He says he's rung Susan, as Finn asked - and sure enough, she arrives for her third visit of the day. She asks how Finn is.

FINN: Fine. Just got my new shirt dirty. Serves me right for dressing up for her.
SUSAN: I'm sorry.
FINN: I should've known better than to get my hopes up.
SUSAN: She's your mother. Part of you will always hope for her approval.
FINN: Karl, you've spoken to her. What did she say about me?
KARL: It's not important.
FINN: That I'm a bad seed? Always was, always will be? You can be honest.
KARL: A lot of painful things have happened in your family. I don't think you should feel it's entirely on you.
SUSAN: Did Claudia acknowledge that?
KARL: No. But, you know, you have a strong ally in your brother. With his support, I don't think you should write your mother off just yet.
FINN: She wrote me off years ago. Maybe she was right to. Look at the things I've done. I've proven every bad thing they ever thought about me to be true. I wouldn't be surprised if I never see her again.

No 24
Elly is lying on the sofa, as Mark prepares to head out to work. Elly tries to talk to him before he goes, but he says he'll see her later, and walks straight out. Elly turns off the TV, and heads to the fridge to retrieve a bottle of wine. She considers for a moment, then heads into the bedroom...

We hear a taxi horn honk, and Elly emerges again, in a glamorous dress. She checks her hair and make-up, then heads out of the front door.

Back Lane Bar
Elly is knocking back shots at the bar, in between sipping her cocktail. She recommends the cocktails, which are on two-for-one, to a man sitting next to her.

MAN: Two, please.
ELLY: Bad day, hey?
MAN: You could say that.

We pan out; the man is Shaun, but Elly doesn't know this, having never met him before.

SHAUN: Can I join you?

They clink glasses, and Shaun moves to a closer stool...

Coming up on Neighbours
- Claudia says her sons are very different; Susan says, 'because they were treated differently'
- Imogen accuses Piper of treading water in her life. Upset, Piper tells her to shut up
- Elly crying on the beach; we hear her say that she and Mark are in serious trouble
- Elly tells Leo that she's ruined everything