Previously on Neighbours
- Elenora, the Italian Eirini Rising resident, says something to JJ and Nell that they don't understand
- Darcy transfers himself more than $2 million worth of Amanda's shares
- Sadie agrees that Byron should become the joint administrator of Amanda's trust fund
- Darcy is furious when he learns of this, telling Sadie she was supposed to be Amanda's friend
- At the hospital, Remi and Susan are pleased that Karl's condition seems to be improving
- But Darcy is less pleased about this when Paul tells him the news later
- Paul gives Susan a list of drugs that mimic stroke symptoms, suggesting she ask that Karl be tested for them
- But Darcy pays Karl a visit in the hospital, injecting a further dose of drugs into his IV fluids
Harold's Café
Nell's friend Jasmine has turned up to tell Nell and JJ what Elenora was talking to them about in Italian - she was asking why the courtesy bus was late, as she'd run out of medication and needed to visit the pharmacy. JJ is worried that a resident could be without medication, but Jasmine says it's not for everyday use - it's just for when Elenora has flare- ups with her lungs.
JASMINE: She could've sworn they were in her apartment, but she can't find them anywhere.
Jasmine suggests the cleaners could have moved the drugs, and JJ says he'll look into it.
Erinsborough Hospital
Holly is visiting Karl and trying to amuse him with tales from The 82, but Karl is totally unresponsive - despite his eyes still being open. Remi comes in, and Holly worriedly tells her that Karl hasn't been interacting all, despite him having been improving up until recently. Remi puts it down to exhaustion, but Holly says something doesn't feel right.
Remi says the specialist has been delayed but they'll know more after Karl has been assessed. Meanwhile, she reminds Holly that recovery isn't always linear - it can be one step forward, two steps back. Remi leaves.
HOLLY (tearful): Come on, Dad.
Eirini Rising
Susan and Terese are talking about Karl - Susan wishes he'd taken his concerns about Darcy more seriously, so they could have worked together to find proof. Terese says that she and Paul will handle it; Susan needs to focus on Karl's recovery.
SUSAN: I'm just scared that whatever Darcy's done, he's gonna get away with it.
TERESE: Of course - of course you're scared. And I'm sure it's bringing up a lot of emotions from the past.
SUSAN: Finn. Finn has crossed my mind once or twice, yeah.
At this point, JJ and Nell turn up. Nell asks after Karl - Susan tells her he's making progress, and promises to keep them updated after she visits the hospital later. JJ tells them about Elenora's missing medication - she's replaced it but wonders if they could check if one of the cleaners saw it.
JJ: It's called Respirodox. I hope I said that right.
Susan's face falls, as she checks the name of the drug against Paul's list of those that can mimic stroke symptoms. Sure enough, it's among those listed. Susan looks worried.
Ramsay Street
Susan is on the phone asking Remi to test Karl for Respirodox, when Darcy pulls up in his car. It's not clear whether he's heard her, but she wraps up the call when she sees him. Susan plays nice with Darcy, who claims he's picking up the last of his stuff from Terese's garage.
SUSAN: Oh. I thought you said there was no room at the hotel for any of your stuff.
DARCY (sharkish grin): I made some more.
But Susan tells Darcy that Terese is at work, so he won't be able to get in. Darcy feigns disappointment and says he'll collect his things another time. Susan looks over at his car and notices that it is piled high with bags in the back. Darcy tells Susan he'll let her get some rest, promising to call in and see Karl at the hospital later.
Seemingly fearing Darcy's about to abscond, Susan asks him in, saying she could really do with someone to talk to. Darcy smiles again, and follow Susan to the door, then checks behind him as they go in to see if anybody else is about. Ominous music plays...
Lassiter's Complex
Paul, Jane, Sadie and Byron are hanging out at the drinks van. Sadie reports to them all that Holly thinks Karl's condition has worsened.
SADIE: Everyone in the family seems to be on edge. Even Darcy. He had a go at me.
BYRON: He shouldn't be taking it out on you.
PAUL: Yeah. What exactly happened?
SADIE: Well, he was angry that I decided to look after Amanda's trust fund with Byron (...) He scared me. And then he said something really weird. He said that I'd let him down.
PAUL (joining the dots): Karl had concerns that Darcy was after Amanda's money.
JANE: What are you saying, Paul?
PAUL: There was a reason that Darcy was angry with Sadie. Now, if I were you, I would interrogate your mother's estate. But if he approaches again, just be careful, because he can be volatile, okay?
Paul walks off leaving Jane looking worried.
No 28
Susan is boiling the kettle for a cuppa with Darcy; it still seems like she is keeping him there under false pretences, to stop him escaping. But she uses the pretext of her concern about Karl, saying if he survives this he'll need a lot of support - and asks if Darcy would consider moving in here to help with that, to lighten the load for her and Holly.
It's unclear whether Darcy has rumbled what Susan is up to, and after she's asked this of him, he simply stares at her inquisitively. Susan backtracks, saying she's sure he'll be very busy with his new health centre - but Darcy finally replies that Karl's health comes first. She babbles on about installing rails about the place to assist with Karl's mobility, but Darcy says it's a little early to be thinking of that.
Darcy offers to finish making the tea for Susan. She says she can manage, but Darcy insists that he'd like to feel useful. The sharkish grin is back. Susan thanks him and goes to sit on the sofa - at which point Darcy quickly begins dispensing capsules of powdered drugs into her mug! Susan looks towards him anxiously - it isn't clear if she can see what he's doing...
The Waterhole
Aaron, Nicolette, Jane, Sadie and Byron have convened for drinks. Byron has been scouring Amanda's paperwork and has found some pertaining to Amanda's shares in the company SageKeys. Byron has asked Amanda's lawyer Russell about it, but he had no idea that Amanda owned shares. He's now looking into it and will call Byron back. Jane thinks it's very strange.
No 28
Darcy encourages Susan to drink her tea as it's 'gonna get cold'. She appears to be about to take a sip, when there's a knock at the door and she puts the mug down again, before getting up to answer it. It's JJ and Nell, just 'checking in'. Susan says that's sweet, but not necessary as she's got company. Darcy has appeared behind her and beams at the teens.
NELL: It's just that you seemed really upset when JJ mentioned Elenora's medication.
Ominous drumbeat, as Darcy now knows for sure Susan's onto him.
DARCY: What's this about Elenora?
JJ: Oh, just some medication went missing from her room. Did Susan not tell you?
DARCY: No, it's the first I've heard of it.
SUSAN (faux casual): I just haven't had a chance to tell you yet, that's all.
Susan thanks the kids for stopping by, and closes the door.
Indoors, Susan now looks very uncomfortable as she rejoins Darcy on the sofas.
DARCY: Good thing this tea's still warm.
SUSAN: Yeah. Good thing.
They both sip from their mugs...
Lassiter's Complex
Paul, Sadie and Jane are sitting outside the hotel. Jane shows Paul the documents about Amanda's shares. Paul thinks the shares are likely worth around $2 million.
JANE: Surely that can't be right?
PAUL: Yeah. And, you know, that's the kind of money that somebody would be prepared to kill for.
Byron joins them; he's just spoken to Russell the lawyer, and it seems the ownership of Amanda's shares was transferred very recently.
SADIE: To who?
PAUL: Darcy Tyler.
JANE: What on earth is happening?
No 28
Susan tells Darcy she'll be heading back to the hospital shortly, and invites him to come along, to save him visiting later. Darcy says he'd love to but has things to do. Susan puts her hand on his arm and asks if he could change his plans to support her and Karl. Darcy agrees, but as Susan receives a call from Paul, he looks concerned, and perhaps surprised that the drugs he put in Susan's tea haven't taken effect yet.
Shrewdly deciding to ignore Paul's call, Susan suggests they get going to the hospital and gets up. Darcy stands up too, but as he does so, begins to lose his balance! He hovers over the sofa, his heart thumping and his vision blurring. Then he collapses back onto the cushions.
DARCY: Susan... what have you done to me?
Susan's demeanour shifts from one of fear, to disgust.
SUSAN: You've done this to yourself.
Erinsborough Hospital
A disoriented Darcy wakes up in a hospital bed, with Remi by his side. She checks his blood pressure, which she says is 'slightly elevated' but 'to be expected'. He sits up as if preparing to leave, but finds his arm handcuffed to the bed! Then he notices a police guard outside the door, sighs, and falls back onto the bed. Susan comes in; Remi offers to stay, but Susan says it's okay, so Remi leaves.
SUSAN: I've been piecing it all together while you were asleep. I'm not as naive as I used to be, Darcy - I know you put something in the tea, so I switched the mugs... Did you kill Amanda?
Darcy looks as if he's about to say something, but then decides against it.
SUSAN: We know what you did with the shares. I suspect that Karl was getting too close to the truth, so you tried to kill him too.
Again, Darcy doesn't respond.
SUSAN: It's all gonna come out now, Darcy. So at least have the guts to admit the truth.
But Darcy's staying quiet.
SUSAN (scoffs): You're pathetic.
She walks out.
Outside in the car park, Susan presides at an RSR debrief comprising Remi, Holly, Terese and Paul. She thanks Paul profusely for having been such a good friend to Karl.
PAUL: Don't be silly, Susan. He would've done exactly the same for me.
HOLLY: So now that we know it's not a stroke, what does this mean for Dad's recovery?
REMI: Well, we found extremely high levels of Respirodox in his system. We've given him IV fluids to counteract that, and then he should start to make recovery quickly.
SUSAN: Will there be permanent damage?
REMI: It's really too early to tell. But the paralytic component will wear off over time.
Holly announces that she wants to see Darcy, but Susan tells her it's not happening.
SUSAN: Your dad is the only person who deserves our attention right now.
HOLLY: You're right. Let's go be with Dad.
Susan and Holly go inside with Remi, while Terese laments to Paul that she 'let the fox into the hen house' by employing Darcy, due to her insecurities over Chelsea.
TERESE: Now one woman's dead, and one of my best friends is in hospital!
PAUL: Hey, hey - come on, this is not your fault, alright?
No 24
Jane is with Nicolette, Byron, Sadie and Aaron, and is struggling to process the news that Darcy may have killed Amanda. Nicolette seems confident he did, but Jane reminds her they don't know anything for sure.
JANE (upset): I just can't stop thinking about her final moments. I mean, was she scared? Was she...
AARON: Jane, don't do that to yourself. Whatever you're imagining is probably worse.
NICOLETTE: What if we never know the truth?
BYRON: Holly says that Darcy's refusing to speak.
AARON: Yeah, he's most likely just waiting for his lawyer.
JANE: Well, surely he wouldn't withhold the truth from us.
NICOLETTE: He's a rat. Anything's possible.
Jane, Nicolette and Aaron exit, while Byron asks Sadie how she's doing.
SADIE: Darcy was right. I'm stupid.
BYRON: Sadie, you can't say that.
SADIE: I mean, I was his puppet. He manipulated me every step of the way, and I let him.
BYRON: No. He took advantage of your trust. He saw that you were a good person who sees the best in someone. That's it, yeah?
But Sadie looks unconvinced.
Erinsborough Hospital
To Susan and Holly's relief, Karl appears to be coming round from his paralysis. He tries to talk, but Susan encourages him to rest.
HOLLY: You'll be annoying us with your singing in no time. I've missed it.
SUSAN: Really?
Karl smiles. Holly tells him he was right about Darcy all along; he even tried to convince them that Karl was still taking painkillers, but no one believed it. Susan fills him in about Paul's efforts to uncover the truth, and the fact they have proof of the theft of the money from Amanda. Holly declares that Susan was 'amazing, beating Darcy at his own game', and tells Karl about the tea- drugging.
KARL (croakily): My hero.
It's montage time, as Darcy is led out of hospital in slow motion by two police officers while dramatic choral music plays. Paul, Holly, Susan and Terese all scowl at him as he's marched out of the hospital entrance, Terese holding Holly back as she attempts to approach Darcy. Just then, Jane, Byron, Sadie and Nicolette turn up.
JANE (crying): Wait! You wait right there and tell me what you did to my mother?! You tell me! She trusted you, and we deserve the truth! Tell me - you *tell me* what you did to her!!
But Darcy isn't talking as he's bundled into the police car. Byron and Nicolette comfort a sobbing Jane as Darcy is driven away.
Night falls, and Susan is still by Karl's bedside. Remi tells them that the specialist is very happy with Karl's progress, and Susan says his speech has improved a lot in the last hour. However, Remi reminds them they're not out of the woods - with little literature on Respirodox overdoses, it will be a 'wait and see' situation as regards any ongoing issues. Susan thanks Remi for her help.
REMI: I'm so sorry for what you've been through. Darcy's not only a doctor, he's your family - I just can't believe it.
Karl looks doleful, and Susan sits with him on the bed as Remi leaves.
KARL: You're going to have to look after me again like you did in Europe.
SUSAN: And I will do so gladly.
She kisses him.
SUSAN: I thought I was gonna lose you.
KARL: I was terrified I'd be trapped in my own body (...) I could feel and hear everything. I just couldn't move or talk.
SUSAN: It sounds like a nightmare.
KARL: How did you know to switch the drinks?
SUSAN (shrugs): Learning from the past.
KARL: Finn.
Susan nods, and they cuddle up together.
No 24
Another montage. Jane looks mournfully at the portrait of Amanda on the wall. Nicolette hugs her as Byron and Aaron look on.
No 26
Sadie is crying while looking through some of the clothes that Amanda gave her.
Erinsborough Police Station
Darcy is giving his fingerprints, and looking inscrutable.
No 24
At the dining table, Nicolette comforts Jane as they and Aaron have a cuppa. Nearby Byron is looking pensive. He gazes at his phone, which is open on Sadie's phone number, wondering whether or not to call her. His finger hovers over the button, but he eventually opts not to, and turns the screen off instead.
No 26
Holly comes to see Sadie, who is still crying, and gives her a hug.
Erinsborough Hospital
Susan lays on the bed with Karl, putting her arm around him.
Erinsborough Police Station
Darcy is now having his mugshots taken. He looks angry.
Coming up on Neighbours
- At the pub, Cara praises 'her' for going out of her way to move the law exam. Taye looks awkward
- Sadie asks Wendy what she and Andrew are fighting about; Wendy explains she contacted his birth family
- Byron tells Max and Taye that he wants to fix things with Sadie and get back together
- Vera warns Terese that the residents are talking about a mass exodus from Eirini Rising
