Previously
- Rick tells Brett he's fed up with his rats and being crammed up with him. Rick tells Brett he can have the room, he's had enough.
- Annalise tells Mark she isn't going to withdraw from the competition, and if he doesn't like it... tough.
- Hannah is bitten by a snake.
Number 26 - Hannah's bedroom
Julie and Hannah jump onto the bed, as Hannah cries cradling her leg. Phil and Helen come in wondering what is going on - Julie tells them about the snake. Phil goes to the floor and sees the snake under the bed, telling them that it's just a carpet snake. Julie carries Hannah out of the room while Phil tells Helen that the snake is harmless. His granddad used to keep carpet snakes, he was never bitten. Helen says this one bites.
Number 26 - Kitchen
Julie bandages up Hannah's leg. She reassures Hannah she won't have to go to hospital if the snake isn't poisonous. Phil brings the snake out in a sack - he's positive the snake isn't poisonous. Helen has called the doctor to check Hannah out, just to be cautious. Julie wonders where the snake came from. Hannah asks what they're going to do with the snake. Phil suggests they dispatch him to the 'great reptile park in the sky.' Hannah begs Phil not to kill him, she might even want to keep him as a pet. Phil doesn't think the snake is dangerous, it only bit Hannah because it felt threatened. Phil promises he won't kill the snake, they'll find a home for him tomorrow. Helen brings Hannah some chocolate biscuits - she's heard it works wonders for victims of snake bites.
Number 30
Annalise wakes up Rick who is sleeping on the sofa. Rick still prefers it to sharing a room with Brett, joking about sharing with Brett's rat Jeffrey. Lou comes around looking for Rick. Lou says the household was worried sick when they didn't see Rick in his bed, they miss him and Brett was the most upset. Lou knows the household has changed now Cheryl and the gang are there and Lauren is gone, but Rick is part of the family. Rick says he'll think about it. He needs to come around and get a change of clothes, that is if Jeffrey hasn't eaten them!
Number 24
Cheryl gets off the phone from Michael who says he hasn't seen Rick. Lou says Rick is safe and sound, he spent the night at Mark and Annalise's. Cheryl is relieved. She has a rotten business meeting this morning, she's ready to chuck it all in. She's not cut out for those executive meetings, she'd rather be enjoying herself. She doesn't mind work, but she just wants a job. Lou says he has his own work problems, Julie owns half his business but she's never there and won't consult with him. He wishes he owned all the business.
Number 26
The Martins are keeping the snake in a box. Julie tells Helen about having to go to the car yard, she hasn't been there since she got back from Brazil. Hannah tells Helen her leg feels great, offering to show her the bite mark. She's named the snake Matt, and wants to take him to school.
Number 28
Cheryl visits Gaby. Gaby is working from home today, getting all her files in order to pass to her replacement. Cheryl asks Gaby if she wants to keep her job. Gaby does. Cheryl passes Gaby the resumes of the other applicants - if Gaby is serious she should look at the opposition. Gaby looks through them, and thinks she doesn't have a chance against them. They all have degrees and other qualifications, and years more experience. Cheryl says Gaby has one big advantage - she's already doing the job. Cheryl suggests she'd get the job if she could guarantee that she would stay in the job uninterrupted for twelve months. Cheryl has guessed that Gaby is pregnant after she insisted on a maternity leave clause in her contract. Gaby says women have that right. Cheryl says the bank won't give the job to a pregnant woman, motherhood is a full time job. Gaby can't afford to be unemployed. Cheryl says that it isn't discrimination, the bank won't want to hire a manager who will have their mind on something else. Gaby gives up.
CHERYL: Cheer up, it's not the end of the world.
GABY: No, it's the end of my career though.
Ramsay Street
Lou drives up beside Julie and asks why she didn't show up at the yard this morning. Julie apologises, she ended up getting caught up in a 'show and tell' at Hannah's school with that snake. Lou says there are urgent papers for her to sign. Lou says he had to take over the place while she was in Brazil, and then she didn't go near the car yard while Lou was in Sydney for a couple of days. Julie acknowledges she's not pulling her weight. Lou tells her she either comes to work and earn her keep, or she pulls her head in and lets him do things his way. If she doesn't like his way she should think about selling up. Julie promises to try harder. Lou drops off the papers for Julie to sign.
Newsagents
Phil congratulates Gaby on the pregnancy and wishes her every happiness. Gaby says she won't have a hope for the manager's job because she's pregnant. Phil suggests she try the equal opportunity loop, but she doesn't think it's worth the effort. Phil tells Gaby that she's having a baby and should be feeling on top of the world. Gaby doesn't think so.
Number 26
Cheryl stops by while Julie is reading the papers. Cheryl offers to buy Julie's share of the car yard. She wants it as a surprise for Lou. Julie says Jim left her the half share in his will. Cheryl offers her at least $100,000 for it, maybe a little more. Julie is excited by the prospect, she could buy a house or anything. Cheryl tells her if she cashes in her share she can start making her dreams come true. Julie says she'll give it some thought. Cheryl asks Julie not to tell Lou about it yet.
The Coffee Shop
Mark visits Annalise. Annalise says she has entered the Miss Erinsborough competition, and shows Mark and Gaby the outfit she's wearing for the photoshoot. Mark says beauty contests are sexist and degrading and should have been banned years ago. Gaby agrees. Mark throws Annalise's outfit in the bin 'where it belongs.' Annalise is annoyed, the outfit is stained and she has her photo shoot this afternoon.
The Waterhole
Cheryl and Lou are having a meal together, Cheryl likes that they have a few minutes to sit down and relax, and she talks about how happy she is that they're a couple now. Lou says his life has taken a turn for the better since they got together. Cheryl wants it to stay that way. They overhear a customer (Cedric) arguing with the bartender (Susie) about his drink. Cheryl steps in to ask about what's going on, Cedric thinks he's been charged for the wrong rum. Cheryl says if he buys a raffle ticket then he'll get another drink on the house. Cedric agrees. Cheryl sits down again with Lou - she says she likes working in the real world, not in board rooms. She's made a decision on the work front and is re- thinking of one in the home front. She wants to spend more quality time with Lou. She and Lou say they love each other. As they kiss Cedric gives them a round of applause.
The Coffee Shop
Rick asks Annalise for his old shifts back, he needs the money to find a new place to live, he doesn't want to go back to Lou's place, and doesn't want to get in the way of her and Mark. Annalise says that isn't a problem, she and Mark have been fighting. She asks Rick for his thoughts on beauty contests. Rick thinks they're great, especially if they raise money for charity. Annalise is pleased, and tells Rick he is welcome to move in with them. Annalise asks Rick if he knows any schemes that will earn heaps of money really quickly. Rick says he was about to ask her the exact same question. They cross pinkies and make a wish together.
Newsagents
Julie tells Philip about 'show and tell' with the snake. Phil tells Julie how much he likes working at the newsagents and wishes she was working with him. Julie has been thinking about it, she says she was terrified after Hannah was bitten. Family is the most important thing, so maybe he has the right idea about them having a family business. Julie doesn't have to work at the car yard as she doesn't really like it. Phil says he'd be thrilled to share the newsagents with her. Julie says it didn't work them sharing the office together. Phil says that was different, he was her boss, this would be their own combined business.
JULIE: If it just wasn't a newsagency, it's so...
PHIL: Ordinary? Like a used car yard?
JULIE (laughing): Oh Philip. You don't even get to wear a suit and tie.
PHIL (laughing): Well if that would make you happy...
The Waterhole
Rick asks Mark if he's okay with him moving in with him and Annalise. He thinks it's a good idea, but tells Rick that he and Annalise are arguing. Rick pretends like this is news to him. Mark asks Rick for his thoughts on beauty contests as he thinks they're terrible. Rick plays along that he thinks they're terrible too. He says they exploit women and are sexist and 'totally for airheads.' Mark agrees and tells Rick he can move in. They'll need to go thirds on all the bills. Rick seems surprised but says it's not a problem.
Number 26
Hannah tries to convince Julie to let her keep the snake, but Julie keeps telling her no. Julie says they need to find the snake's owner. If no one claims him they'll take it to the Department of wildlife, who will put him in the bush.
HANNAH: Matt could die out there. He's a carpet snake, and there aren't any carpets in the bush!
Julie says they'll write a sign about the snake and put it up in the newsagents.
Number 24
Lou tells Rick he'll miss him, but if it's alright with his parents then he won't stand in his way. Rick just has to find them, but they'll be sweet. Cheryl wants Rick to move back if it doesn't work out. Rick says he has enough savings for the rent. Cheryl checks that Rick is over 18. She's about to spend more time in the Waterhole and thinks Rick could start training as a bartender. Rick is very keen on the offer.
The Waterhole
Gaby excitedly rushes up to Mark and says she's solved his problem with Annalise. She says it will confront Annalise with the entire sexist reality of beauty contests.
GABY: I've entered you.
MARK: Entered me in what?
GABY: Lassiters is sponsoring you. You're now an official entrant in the Miss Erinsborough Charity Quest!
Mark does not look pleased.