Previously on Neighbours
- Chelsea encourages IT expert Jeffrey to change the report on the locked sauna door incident by seducing him
- As a result, baby Thomas's father could either be Paul or Jeffrey
- Cara explains to Paul and Terese how she saw Chelsea at the airport
- Paul decides that they need to do a paternity test immediately
- Paul reassures a worried Terese that he won't let Chelsea come between them
- Remi suggests that Chelsea and Thomas stay with the Varga- Murphys for a while
- Andrew tells Max they need his help to lure Carter in, and a sting is planned
- But Carter henchman Lachie uses his friendship with Roxy to eavesdrop on the details
- Max tells Roxy he needs to go to the garage to pick up a temporary passport that's being delivered there
- Trevor runs into the garage while Byron, Sadie and Nic are walking him, and they find Max and Roxy there
- Lachie throws a Molotov cocktail through the garage window and the place bursts into flames
- As the flames spread, the trapped residents hammer on the padlocked doors for help...
As with all episodes this week, the usual titles sequence is eschewed in favour of a simple logo card with a 'celebrating 40 years' caption.
Fitzgerald Motors
We open on more flames, the garage now badly ablaze. Nicolette and Sadie are trapped in one area, trying to open the shutter door, but to no avail - so they resort to banging on it and screaming instead.
At the other, padlocked door, Roxy, Byron and Max are also yelling and banging, but neither group has any success shifting the doors...
No 30
While Taye irons a shirt and Chelsea looks after baby Thomas, JJ and Dex are arguing over the fact that they now have to share a bedroom, due to Chelsea being invited to move in. Chelsea reassures the boys that they won't be there for too long.
CARA: No, it'll do these two good to share for a bit.
JJ: That's what you think.
TAYE: I can always look around, see what else is out there.
REMI: No one is going anywhere. (to JJ and Dex) And how do you think our guests feel with you two going on like this?
CARA: Yeah. Way to roll out the welcome mat (!)
DEX: Sorry, Auntie Chelsea.
CHELSEA: It's a full house. I understand.
REMI: A full house that we are fortunate and very happy to have, right?
JJ: Yes.
DEX: Yes, Ma.
Taye smiles to himself. Baby Thomas is not smiling!
No 22
Nell and Terese are packing some of their stuff to take to the penthouse; a removal van is booked to bring the rest tomorrow. Nell tells Terese and Paul that Toadie has made it back to Colac. We learn that Terese is renting the house out fully furnished. Terese assures Paul that their plans are going ahead as scheduled (she means, in the wake of Chelsea turning up). Paul and Terese kiss.
Paul leaves, and Nell asks Terese if she's really okay with Chelsea and Thomas rocking up.
TERESE: Darling, we can't let Chelsea derail our lives.
Terese picks up the glass heart that Paul stole for her from the 'tacky cabin' where she and Paul were stranded before Christmas; it's one of the personal effects she's packing up to take with her.
TERESE: It's a symbol of our love. Unbreakable.
NELL: Hey, if it's any consolation... when Hugo came along, Mum found it really hard. But Hugo's... well, Hugo. She fell in love with him.
TERESE: Yeah. I remember. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First things first - the DNA test.
Harold's Café
Shane and Andrew are having a chat; Shane asks how confident Andrew is that Carter will be arrested. Andrew says there are no guarantees.
ANDREW: But we know that he wants Max, and we'll be there waiting.
SHANE: You're gonna absolutely protect my son?
ANDREW: Yes.
Holly rushes in, and tells them that Max isn't at the hotel - he's at the garage with Roxy to pick up an emergency passport. Holly's heard all this via a message from Roxy, but now she can't get hold of her. Shane and Andrew leap up and rush out with Holly.
As they leave the café, the camera lingers on one of Nell's art pieces on the wall. It depicts Libby Kennedy and Zeke Kinski trapped in the aftermath of the dance party roof collapse at the end of 2007. Karl is also pictured, with a thought bubble coming from his head that asks, 'Who do I save?'
Fitzgerald Motors
Nicolette and Sadie are still trying in vain to open the shutter door as flames whip around them. Meanwhile, Roxy has managed to force open the other doors with a crowbar, allowing her, Max and Byron to get free. Byron sends Roxy to get a fire extinguisher from Grease Monkeys, then shouts to Sadie and Nicolette, who are still trapped behind a wall of flames, telling them he and Max will try the shutter door from the outside.
No 30
Cara is enjoying a cuddle with Thomas.
CARA: He smells so good.
CHELSEA: Give him an hour. Maybe less.
CARA: ... I'm really sorry you've been on your own.
CHELSEA: It hasn't been easy. But it's been special, too. Just him and me.
CARA: Your other kids haven't been any help?
CHELSEA: They're still in their dad's camp. Nothing's changed.
CARA: I'm sorry to hear that... I also need to apologise for the airport. You asked for help. And when I think about how much you needed it... and that I turned my back on you... I shouldn't have.
CHELSEA: Given everything I did, it was a big ask. I don't hold it against you.
CARA: I'm really glad you're here.
Cara suggests Chelsea get ready for bed and have some 'you time', while she takes care of Thomas. Chelsea takes her up on the offer, while Cara smiles adoringly at Thomas. Remi has appeared at the doorway and looks a little concerned about Cara. She comes in.
REMI: I asked them to stay because I wanted to help. But is this gonna be okay for you?
CARA: Yeah. He's my nephew. I wouldn't miss this for the world.
But Remi still looks concerned.
Fitzgerald Motors
The fire is getting worse and Sadie and Nicolette are now crouched on the floor, coughing heavily. Outside, Byron and Max have had no success opening the shutter door. Roxy returns from Grease Monkeys - all they had was a fire blanket (!) Byron decides to head back into the garage with it. He wraps himself in the blanket and runs through the flames to where Sadie and Nicolette are crouched.
With not enough blanket to go round, Byron has to make a decision about which of the women to get out of the garage first, and eventually tells Nicolette to get up. They run through the flames together, leaving a hurt- looking Sadie behind.
Byron and Nicolette reach the exit, and Nicolette goes out, while Byron turns around, presumably preparing to go back for Sadie. But at this point a burning beam in the ceiling begins to creak, and Sadie shrieks as it falls down on top of or near to her - it's impossible to tell - apparently creating a higher and insurmountable wall of flames.
BYRON (screaming): Sadie! Saaaadiiiiiie!
A few seconds later, Nicolette is recovering on the ground outside, while Roxy, Max and Byron desperately try to open the shutter door in a bid to get to Sadie. Andrew, Holly and Shane have arrived and begin to aid the rescue effort. Eventually the shutter opens and Andrew wraps Sadie in his police jacket, before he and Byron pull her out of the garage.
After she's out, however, Sadie begins screaming in agony - her back, it seems, has been severely burned. She continues to wail, much to everyone's distress, as an ambulance and police car arrive at the scene. The garage continues to burn as paramedics rush over to help Sadie...
Erinsborough Hospital
We get a montage of intense happenings at the hospital. Nicolette is being treated in one of the rooms, while Roxy sits in another. Both are seen wearing oxygen masks. In a further shot, Roxy has seemingly dispensed with her mask but is looking very worried and upset. In the waiting area, Andrew waits anxiously for word about Sadie, while Shane, Max and Holly stand by.
Byron comes in to the waiting area and asks if there's been any news on Sadie. Holly says not, but that Roxy and Nicolette are both stable.
ANDREW: We should've had an update by now.
SHANE: Burns can be tricky. They'll be trying to get on top of the pain.
BYRON: I would've taken both of them, but the fire blanket wasn't big enough.
MAX: No, you did everything you could. None of this is your fault.
ANDREW (upset, to Max): Yeah, that's right - it's yours!
SHANE: Andrew, steady on.
ANDREW: You were supposed to stay in the hotel! Now Sadie has to pay the price.
SHANE: Mate, take a breath. The only person who's to blame for any of this is Carter. Max is as much of a victim as anyone.
But both Byron and Max are looking very guilty indeed.
Penthouse
The next morning, Terese is on the phone to Roxy's husband, Kyle, assuring him that she's doing fine. Meanwhile, Paul is talking to Shane on his phone - and once they've both finished, Paul tells Terese and Nell, who's just come out of the lift, that the fire's under control, meaning the rest of the strip on Power Road is intact. Terese tells Nell that Sadie has got burns on her back, but is being cared for.
Paul gives Nell a key card to the penthouse now she'll be living here, and Nell gives Paul a package for him which she said was at reception. It turns out to be the DNA test kits for the paternity test.
Erinsborough Hospital
Aaron has joined the worried faces in the waiting room, and reports that Jane is on her way. Melanie then turns up too, and goes to check on Nicolette on Victor's behalf. Andrew tells the others that the arsonist has been identified as Lachie Jensen from the CCTV at Grease Monkeys, and has been brought in by police.
ANDREW (to Aaron): Same guy that spiked your drink. Probably Sadie's, too.
AARON (looking at a photo): I don't know the guy.
ANDREW: Unfortunately, Roxy does (...) According to Lachie, he became friends with Roxy up in Brissie to keep an eye on Max. (to Shane) Carter knew that she was working for you.
HOLLY: We thought that Kasey led Carter down to Erinsborough.
ANDREW: Yeah, well, we all know Roxy loves a chat. And if she thought she was talking to a friend...
Andrew reveals Roxy doesn't know this yet, but is being discharged from the hospital now; he'll let her know once she's finished with the paperwork. Max looks annoyed.
No 30
A slow- motion musical montage ensues as Jeffrey, the other possible father of Thomas, turns up and is let in by Chelsea. Paul scowls at Jeffrey, who looks a bit apprehensive! We drift over baby Thomas's crib, then see Terese looking worried, and she and Paul holding hands.
Chelsea looks inscrutable as Remi prepares to take the saliva test samples from everybody - being sure to show Paul his own name on the swab container so that everyone's clear there's no mix- up. She takes a sample from Paul, then from Jeffrey, and finally from baby Thomas. Looking into the crib, Paul instinctively reaches in to touch the baby but then draws back, deciding it's premature. Terese looks peeved!
Erinsborough Hospital
We hear Jane on speakerphone having called Byron, who is by Nicolette's bedside. Nicolette reassures Jane that she's fine; Jane tells Nicolette she loves her and will see her soon. After the call...
NICOLETTE: How's our hero of the hour?
BYRON (sighs): I'm no hero.
NICOLETTE: You are.
BYRON: I didn't save Sadie.
Andrew appears at the door, and tells Byron that Sadie is allowed to have visitors now - so he gets up, keen to go and see her. Sadie is lying on her front, with a large dressing on her back covering the burns. Sadie seems relieved to see Andrew, but very distressed. Then she sees Byron.
SADIE: What's he doing here?
BYRON: I... I wanted to see you.
SADIE (upset): I don't want to see him.
ANDREW: Sadie...
SADIE: Get him out. (to Byron, shouting) Get out!
Upset, Byron leaves the room. Sadie is trembling with emotion.
In the waiting area, Roxy has been discharged and is feeling terrible about having brought Lachie to Erinsborough. She explains to the others that she'd asked him to leave; this explains why he didn't.
HOLLY: You weren't to know that Lachie had an agenda.
ROXY: I should've cut him off in Brisbane. I shouldn't have flirted with him.
MAX: No, no - none of this is your fault. Carter started this; I kept it going. Andrew's right - it's my fault.
SHANE: He was upset about Sadie when he said that.
MAX: No - no, he's right. It's my fault Sadie's in there.
Andrew emerges and tells everyone that Sadie's been made comfortable, but they won't know more until they hear from the burns specialist.
SHANE: Carter has a lot to answer for.
ANDREW: Yeah. He'll answer for it - don't worry.
MAX: Yeah, if you can find him. He's good at disappearing.
ANDREW: We will. His mate Lachie's being very cooperative, since he knows he's up against it.
Holly again reassures a guilty- looking Roxy that it isn't her fault. At this point, Andrew gets a phone call.
ANDREW (on the phone): Hey... are you here?
He rushes out.
The Waterhole
Jeffrey and Chelsea are talking over a coffee, as Thomas gurgles in his carry- cot.
JEFFREY: You could've told me you were pregnant, you know? I would've helped you.
CHELSEA: Well, we didn't exactly end on the best of terms.
JEFFREY: I was angry with you, but I would've still made myself available. Don't worry - I'm not interested in you any more. But... if I am the father, you won't be alone. That's all I'm saying.
CHELSEA: Well, that's... very generous of you. Thank you.
JEFFREY: ... You want it to be Paul, don't you?
CHELSEA: I honestly have no feelings either way.
JEFFREY (sceptically): Sure you don't.
Penthouse
Paul is looking out pensively at the skyline. Terese comes up behind him and gives him the glass heart.
PAUL: Ah, the love that cannot be broken.
TERESE: That's us... Hey - yesterday, you said that you were hoping that Thomas wasn't yours. What if he is?
PAUL: I meant what I said. I will not let Chelsea come between us... You know that I've made a lot of mistakes with my children. I was never present, and then when I was, I did nothing but cause them pain. And every time I think of David, I remember that. So... when I look at Thomas - I mean, *if* he is mine - I just... I see a chance to be different, you know?
Terese looks a bit panicked!
No 32
Max is on the patio, on the phone to Andrew who has given him some good news. Finishing the call, he tells Holly that Carter has been caught and is in custody, after Lachie 'dobbed him in'. They're both very relieved and share a celebratory hug, which goes on for rather a while!
Lassiter's Complex
We see a few more of Nell's art pieces in the complex, including some 2D props of Ramsay Street houses, the tram, palm trees, a dog (Bouncer, maybe? It's too cartoony to tell), and an image of Paul in a tuxedo, welcoming passengers on board a certain ill- fated plane ride in 2005 - near to another image of the plane crashing into the Bass Strait!
Harold's Café
Melanie and Aaron are looking at one of the art pieces on the wall. Unlike most of the installations, this one depicts characters unfamiliar to us - a seemingly loved- up couple, the woman heavily pregnant and saying, 'I'm having quadruplets!'
AARON: Who are all these people?
MELANIE: We'll have to ask Nell. She researched the whole suburb!
AARON: Wait a minute. Are you telling me that there's a whole world outside Ramsay Street?
MELANIE: I have found this to be true.
They laugh, and Aaron asks how things are going between Melanie and Vic.
MELANIE: Amazingly well! And it was so good to see Jane at the wedding, too. And Toadie, and Terese, and everyone! Old neighbours, good friends...
AARON: Remember, you did catch the bouquet.
Melanie insists it's 'way too early' for her or Vic to be buying rings - but when pressed, concedes that it's 'definitely maybe' a possibility for the future. As Melanie does her seal- laugh, we close in on art pieces nearby depicting Des Clarke and Daphne Lawrence, one of Ramsay Street's early supercouples, with captions asking 'will they?' and 'won't they?' (Spoiler - they did!)
No 32
Trevor is playing with a ball in the back garden (which appears to be the first indication we've had that he made it out of the garage alive, having mysteriously disappeared from scenes after the fire took hold!) Max and Holly are lying on the floor nearby; Max remarks that Trev doesn't appear to have been traumatised by the incident.
HOLLY: What about you?
MAX: Yeah, I'm okay.
He tells Holly that the police are going to throw the book at Carter, meaning he'll hopefully go away for a long time.
MAX: It's really over, isn't it?
HOLLY: Yeah.
MAX: Hey, thanks for being there for me lately. I know I didn't make it easy for you.
HOLLY: You were under a lot of pressure. I get it.
MAX: No. No, you did a lot, and I know I wasn't as grateful as I could've been.
HOLLY: ... When I saw the fire last night, I thought you were all gone.
MAX: Yeah, that thought crossed my mind, too... So you think you'd miss me?
HOLLY: 'Miss' is a strong word. But I've probably got used to having you around.
MAX: Like a bad smell?
HOLLY: Yeah, exactly like a bad smell. At first you hate it, then you kind of get used to it.
MAX: (...) Hey, I was... I was so glad you weren't there. You know, when everything went up, the one thing I could hang onto was... at least my mess didn't hurt you.
Holly gazes at him, and Max begins to shuffle towards her, seemingly keen for a kiss. She shuffles towards him too, but...
TREVOR: (barks)
Trevor's annoyed because his ball has rolled through the fence and now he can't get it. Max laughs, the moment broken, and he and Holly continue to lie there in slightly awkward silence.
Erinsborough Hospital
Sadie begins to wake up from a nap, and sees that Wendy - Wendy! - has returned, and is lying on the bed opposite her, smiling at her.
SADIE: Mum?
WENDY: Hey, sweetheart.
SADIE: What are you doing here?
WENDY: Where else would I be?
SADIE: But your course... don't you have an excursion or something?
WENDY: Oh, they can spare me. I'm not leaving this bedside.
Nearby, Andrew is looking very emotional.
ANDREW: We've both been told.
WENDY: How are you? And be honest.
SADIE (upset): He left me there, Mum.
WENDY: Oh, baby...
Wendy strokes Sadie's face as she sobs.
The Waterhole
In the foreground is an aptly placed piece of art depicting Mark Brennan and Elly Conway gazing at a certain ultrasound scan photo, with a caption that reads, 'Who's the daddy?' - while in the background, Paul, Terese, Cara, Remi, Chelsea, Jeffrey and Thomas are gathered to get the DNA results, which we soon learn Remi's colleagues in the lab have expedited for her!
Cara tells Paul and Terese that she understands they're mad at her and Nicolette because they didn't tell them about the baby straight away. Paul and Terese don't contradict her!
CARA: I'm just hoping that, in time, you'll understand.
PAUL: Yeah, well. It's a complicated situation.
Remi's phone rings, and she is given the result. Everyone looks tense, waiting for Remi to pass on the news that...
REMI: Paul is the father.
Everyone looks a bit melodramatic except for Jeffrey, who is smiling! Terese and Paul glance at one another, shaken by the news...
Coming up on Neighbours
Hide contents
- Susan wonders if a fancy car on Ramsay Street belongs to Terese's mystery new tenant
- Chelsea admits to Cara that she fell in love with Paul; Cara asks if she'll respect him and Terese
- Terese asks Paul, 'Where to from here?'
- On the beach, Leo asks Krista to tell him what's going on, as she's scaring him; Krista looks panicked
