Recap
Drew telling Libby that his dad has put a hefty bet on the rodeo and that he can't not take part now.
Steph answering the door and being stunned at whoever is behind the door.
No. 26
And the mystery guest is none other than Woody!
WOODY: Surprise!
STEPH:
WOODY: Are you going to ask me in?
STEPH:
WOODY: I thought you'd be glad to see me.
STEPH:
WOODY: Stephie I was lying low.
STEPH:
WOODY: I would have called you except it wasn't safe you know. It's all over now.
STEPH:
WOODY: I missed you.
Woody then goes to touch her but Steph recoils from his touch and she still can't manage to talk. Woody tells her laughingly, that the prodigal has returned just as we hear Mitch comes back from the bathroom. He is shouting out "Sydney here we come" when he spots Woody on the door step and both men want to know what is going on but Steph is still speechless.
Oakey
Libby is having a bit of trouble getting used to country air when they catch up with Ron who is doing a sweep of the arena in case someone is out to sabotage the rodeo by burying foreign objects. Drew asks his dad if he's seen Scotty and Ron replies that he hasn't. As if trying to prove a point, the detector bleeps but it is just a two-dollar coin which he gives to Libby for his grandchild. They then talk about the rodeo and Drew doesn't think he stands a chance because it has been ages since he's ridden but Ron tells him that he's going to win and if he does then he'll be $6k richer.
No. 26
Woody explains, with a bit of prompting from Mitch, what happened the last time Steph saw him. He tells them that while waiting for Steph, Barry Burke jumped in the front of the car with a gun, so he just floored the car because he knew Steph would be back to the car soon. He adds that Barry was yelling at him to go and he was yelling back at him to get his gun out of my face.
Mitch starts to interrupt Woody by asking why he didn't let Steph know he was okay and Woody politely asks if he has somewhere else he can go to! Steph however wants the question answered and Woody tells her that Kev Kelly was still on the lookout for him and they'd have just been back to square one with constantly having to look over their shoulder.
MITCH: But now he's forgiven and all made up.
WOODY: He's dead.
Woody tells them that Kev Kelly tried to rip off a dealer. Mitch thinks it is all one big lie from Woody and Steph tells him that he isn't helping, so he takes this as a hint to leave.
With Mitch away, Woody reaches for Steph's hand and notices his ring on her pinkie and tells her that he used to lie awake and dream of this moment. He then asks her what is the story with Mitch but Steph can't cope with it and tells him later.
No. 28
Emily is trying to get Dahl to play with her but the bird has some brains and ignores her. She then tells Susan that Evan said they could look after Audrey, so Susan puts the lead on her and escorts Emily out the door. The phone starts ringing, so she asks Darcy (who's just entered) to watch while Emily heads home. The caller is Susan's sister Liz with news that she is in Prague and Elly isn't with her.
No. 26
Woody walks through to the kitchen where Steph is composing herself and she asks him if he has any idea what she's been through in the last few months and Woody replies that it is all over now - no more police or hiding. She tells him that she attended his memorial service and Woody has the audacity to laugh saying she meant Barry Burke's. Steph adds that she cried herself to sleep for weeks and all Woody can say is that he is here now. "One phonecall and you could have saved me all that," Steph tells him and Woody says he's sorry.
Steph admits she is having trouble dealing with this and Woody tells her he'll call her tomorrow.
No. 28
Susan is having a go at her sister on the phone reiterating that they aren't looking after Elly but Liz hangs up on her! She comes off the phone and tells Darcy that Liz has gone off to Europe chasing after a job and left the raising of her daughter (who will be arriving in the morning) to her sister and brother in law! Darcy tells her not to worry as from what he remembers; Elly was a little sweetheart and adds that given time she'll probably be saying that she hopes Elly won't leave.
Oakey rodeo (next day)
The random voice on the tannoy welcomes everyone as Drew runs into Scotty and asks for his money. He turns on the sob story but it isn't washing with Drew, so Scotty comes clean - he's bet $3k on Drew losing the rodeo and once he does, he can pay back what he owes.
Karl catches up with Ron as he has a snifter from the hip flask and turns down the offer of some for himself. They head off to watch which horse Drew will get in the rodeo and pass Drew and Libby going to where the horses are.
Lib asks if he's mentioned Scotty's bet to Ron, he hasn't, and what will he do but as she is asking him, she feels a pain and reassures Drew it is just another Braxton hick's contraction. She asks again what he is planning to do but we cut back to Erinsborough before we hear his answer.
No. 26
Mitch is round having brekkie with Steph but neither is very hungry. He asks if she loves him but Steph replies that she isn't sure how she feels atm. Mitch asks if she could trust him again and all Steph can say is that she doesn't know how she'd react if the same thing happened to her. He is about to say something important to her but stops himself but Steph wants to know.
MITCH: I'm in love with you.
STEPH:
Oakey rodeo
Karl and Ron look at the horse Drew has been given as Drew comes over, just as the men talk bets. Libby decides she's heard enough and wants to go and take things easy. Ron asks if she is going to watch Drew ride but Lib says she's scared, so no!
No. 28
Susan is fed up waiting for Elly and decides she's going looking for her when the girl herself shows up escorted by two policemen! Speechlessness must be catching as Susan is now lost for words like Steph!
Oakey rodeo
Ron gives Drew some last minute instructions as Scotty comes up to give Drew some more tips.
No. 26
Mitch now wishes he hadn't said anything and tells Steph that he's going to go to Sydney and allow her time to think and besides he's made a fool of himself already. Steph replies that he hasn't and he gives her his address in Sydney before he leaves. As he is going out the door, he runs into Woody who has just arrived and neither are exactly pleased to see the other.
MITCH: Maybe you should keep your distance for a while mate.
WOODY: I was about to say the same thing to you.
MITCH: If you care you would just get lost again.
WOODY: Ah that would make it so easy for you, wouldn't it!
MITCH: It's not about me.
WOODY: No mate and it never was, it's all about Stephanie and me.
Oakey rodeo
Lib wonders around the rodeo as a we cut to a shot of a nice, handsome young man who spots Drew looking at the horses and goes over to him. Drew hasn't got a clue who he is and isn't exactly welcoming the young man's idle rodeo chat. Mr Handsome tells Drew that he hasn't got a clue who he is, he hasn't, and after a few clues Drew recognises Mr Handsome as his best mate's little brother - Chooka Parker. They reminisce about past times and Chooka mentions he's just finished his apprenticeship and is looking for a job as the rodeo gets underway. The first contestant doesn't last too long and Drew is starting to get a bit worried.
We cut back to Libby who spots an open barn and ventures inside.
Back with the rodeo and Drew gets on his horse and after a quick cut to Libby looking at a horse in the barn, we're back with Drew just as it is his turn to be released into the ring. Ron and Karl cheer him on and he lasts a lot longer than the previous guy (who was the favourite) and while Karl and Ron celebrate, Scotty isn't.
Oh no, someone passes the open barn Libby has gone into and notices it is open. They close the doors and thread a rod through to lock it...tight. After a quick cut to Karl, Ron and Chooka celebrating, we head back to Libby as she goes to try and push the door open but it ain't budging. She bangs on the door trying to get someone's attention but bar us viewers there is nobody around as they are all at the rodeo.
Back to the rodeo and Drew hugs his father and father in law over his winning of the rodeo. While the two men leave to collect their winnings, Scotty comes over and asks if Drew likes being poor. Drew tells him that he signed the contract and he's got to cough up. Scotty tries to say that Drew owes him more than $10k and doesn't look impressed when Drew tells him that the guilt trip is over - it was an accident.
No. 26
Woody is telling Steph that they are meant to be but she isn't agreeing. He then confirms that he was the one responsible for putting the money into her bank account. Woody repeats what he did the previous night (reaching for her hands) but is told again - not now.
Rodeo
Lib is trying to use a crow bar to force open the doors but gives up when she realises she's getting nowhere. She then feels another contraction and grips onto a bail of straw as she breaths through it.
No. 28
Susan is trying to get answers out of Elly (the police brought her round as they thought she was going to spray paint a wall) but Elly gives her a "smart" answer back. Susan lays down the law and Elly replies that it's cool because she's the boss. It just about sounds like Susan is lying through her back teeth as she tells her niece that she is so looking forward to having her stay and wants the stay to be fun. "Ditto," is all that Elly replies with, so Susan tells her to be good!
Darcy is now trying to be the cool cousin and tells her she is a lot bigger than the last time he saw her and Elly asks for a tour of the sights of Erinsborough! "You might be a bit disappointed in little old Erinsborough," replies Darcy.
ELLY: Two weeks of this is going to kill.
SUSAN: Two weeks!!!
ELLY: That's the deal. Mum said we are going travelling, just the two of us.
Oakey
Oh no, it looks like it is real contractions Libby is having and not the Braxton Hicks she told Drew earlier as she is hit with another contraction while she is all alone in a locked barn.