Recap
- Karl going all primary school on Susan - "I don't think I can be your friend anymore"
- Steph dreaming of dreamboat Drew
- Alex thinking he may have to break the law to find Catcher... uh, Katya
Scarlet Bar
To bypass the finicky legal side of searching for Katya, Susan suggests putting an ad in the paper; even if she doesn't see it one of her friends might. Alex is just being cautious in the way in which he looks for his daughter but Susan thinks he may be restricting himself that way. He takes a picture of Katya from his wallet to show Susan. "I really want to find her."
Number 32
Steph's asleep when a hand makes its way across screen and paws at her head. It's Dreamboat Drew! And he's full steam ahead in the pashing stakes! Toot toot! Steph mutters his name happily...
Back in the land of reality, Lynnie suppresses a smirk and wakes her daughter up. "Sorry I'm not Drew..." Steph bolts upright looking horrified, wondering how vocal she was and what she said. "Oh let's see," Lynnie ponders, "I think it went something like, 'Oh, Drew'..." (That's just ten kinds of squicky when said by Lynnie in that kind of voice, lemme tell ya). She wonders if Steph and Max may be having problems; usually when you dream it's your subconscious trying to tell you something (I'd love for Lynnie to tell me one day why an elephant appeared out of a plug hole and chased me down a street once...). Steph's adamant they're fine though. She can't help asking if she really sounded that passionate though. "Mmm-Hmm," Lynnie replies, getting her 'you-go-girlfriend' on *insert Z-snap here*
Scarlet Bar
Max, flipping around the largest pepper grinder known to mankind (perhaps it's Ned's), runs into Karl and suggests he'd be better off eating elsewhere, giving a nod in Alex and Susan's direction. Karl thanks him and almost makes a quick getaway when Alex spies him and walks over. He asks if he's still coming to his buck's night but Karl says he can't make it.
Alex notes the weirdness about Karl with Susan and soon cottons on that there's more to the story than he first thought. He finds out that Karl doesn't think it's best to be around her anymore. She sheepishly admits she's known about it for a couple of days and Alex is all, 'Ah yes, it's good we don't keep secrets from one another' to which Susan eye rolls at.
Number 26
Lyn rushes in and turns off the super loud stereo blasting out a guitar-inspired rock song, better known as Bedroom Bumpin' Bogans. Janelle and Kim rush out from the hallway and Lyn sarcastically says she looks okay for someone who called in sick at work. She just did a double shift to cover for Janelle while she was "... thrashing". Janelle can't see the problem though and goes off to make some tea for everyone.
Kim, and his loud seashell shirt, apologise to Lyn, he didn't realise Janelle pulled a sickie. He adds they'll be out of her hair once he gets enough money together. Kim's grateful for all she's done for his family. Lynnie gives a small smile and can't help saying that Janelle *has* been a different woman ever since he came back.
Did you know that the 'you know' count for this scene was five 'you knows', you know?
Number 32
Steph and Sum have their own little squee-fest to catch up while Sum pats her on her baby belly. Steph asks who Sum's caught up with and Sum says just Bree mainly... but then starts to cry. She's upset that everything is different now. "I just wish I'd never left." Steph gives her a comforting hug.
Number 28
Steph, Susan and Lyn are sat at the kitchen table with Janelle as she takes charge of Susan's hen's night - Alex and Zeke are sitting in the background. The Zekester asks a few hairy questions and finds out from Janelle that there's gonna be strippers. Alex takes him out before he learns too much more.
Susan puts her foot down and says there'll be no "entertainment". All she wants is nice food, nice wine, and nice conversation. Janelle's not liking that at all. Lyn notes that Steph looks a bit down and she tells them about poor Sum, not knowing what to do. The ladies have an impromptu mother's club meeting and go on about how unpredictable teenage girls can be. They believe the problem should eventually sort itself out.
STRIPPERS! Now I have your attention, Janelle and I want to get back to the nekkid man talk. I hear Ned's looking for some work...
General Store
Kim runs into, "Hey! Bree's boyfriend, right?" It's nice to know he pays attention. Zeke says he's the ex now as Kim notes his skateboard and marvels at how new and shiny it is. That would be because Zeke's never skated outside of the house. Kim offers to teach him some moves down at the skate park, to which Alex gives his a-ok to, eyeballing Karl at the same time.
He basically dives right in and tells Karl that he knows he still has feelings for Susan but he'd really love for him to come to his buck's night. He says that if he were in Karl's shoes he'd probably feel the same, but he'd know that she has to move on. Karl's all 'splutter, splutter, deny, you don't understand, woah?'
ALEX: Our futures are linked through Susan and I'd like that future to be a friendly one. Please, come to my party.
(Karl notes his outstretched hand and reluctantly shakes it)
ALEX: Thank you.
Number 28
Janelle is nixing all of Susan's "boring" suggestions for where she wants her hen's do. "We might as well sit at home and watch Bert!" Susan reminds her she's not interested in some "muscle-bound 20-year-old waggling in front of my face!" Janelle blocks that out and jumps up to get the phone book.
Rachel arrives home from Bree's and Susan and Steph gently ask if Summer was there and how next time Rachel should ask her about Gillard. Janelle, meanwhile, has the phone book open to an exciting page. "What's the difference between dancers and exotic dancers?" queries Rachel, peering over her shoulder. Susan hastily suggests she go back to Bree's house, reiterating to Janelle her idealistic food, wine and convo hen's party.
SUSAN: Read my lips Janelle. No. Strippers.
JANELLE: Oh all right, all right. Cross my heart.
Oh Suse you gullible lass, take a look at Janelle's sneaky look! It can only mean one thing... STRIPPERS! (Can you not also hear the bow-chicka-bow-wow chorus? It's at 9 on the kink-o-meter!).
Number 26
Max stands with Summer on Bree's doorstep. She's not too keen on hanging around with her after feeling uncomfortable earlier that day but Max just thinks she's being silly, knocking on the door for her and doing a runner.
Sum needn't have worried though, they slip right back into conversation about boys and all things teenage-girly. Rachel swings by, a little surprised to see Summer there, and immediately starts to feel left out when the girls start to chat about the infamous Penny Weinberg. She's like totally in a band and it's all cool and keyboardy, and like they should go and see her at one of her gigs 'cause that's all kinds of awesome.
Number 32
Max smiles when he sees that Steph's almost drifted off to sleep with a book in her hand. He gently takes it off her and gives her a kiss on the head, saying goodnight. "Night Drew," Steph murmurs, immediately waking up with an 'Oh... word that rhymes with duck' look. Max looks confused and asks what she said.
STEPH: I said... night dear.
MAX: Dear?
STEPH: What? I'm allowed to call you dear aren't I?
MAX: Yeah, when we're sixty-five.
STEPH: Well you're not that far off are you!
MAX: I'll just let that one slide; it doesn't do for us old guys to get too worked up.
Steph darts across him and grabs her book back, she wants to read some more chapters because she's up to an interesting part. Max says she's exhausted but Steph's determined not to dream about hunky men... ah, determined to find out what happens. Max buys that and rolls over to sleep, "I'll see you in the morning... dear." Steph looks freaked out. She can never sleep again!
Fancy Upmarket Rotunda - Next morning
Everyone is gathered for Susan's classy-looking hen's party. Woah, Janelle looks heaps like Janae all dolled-up like that. She also looks very bored at the serious conversation Susan is partaking in.
Lynnie's sitting with Steph and can't believe that she let slip with Drew's name in front of Max. Steph said she had to wait till he fell asleep but Lyn reminds her daughter she can't do that every night. Steph's feeling weird, she thinks all these Drew dreams must mean something now.
Susan's still going on about things to her friends that Janelle has no idea about and makes a quick escape to Lyn and Steph while she can. Susan comments on the yummy wine.
Janelle sneakily shows Lynnie and Steph something in a bag she's brought along. Lyn asks what she's up to but Janelle says she's just doing what Susan wanted. "A chat, food, bit of wine... bit more wine..." She dashes over and refills Ms Smith's wine glass, giving the gals a wink. This is gonna be great!
Fancy Upmarket Rotunda
Susie-doll is on her way to sloshedville, knocking her glass of wine over in a grand sweeping motion while she's chatting. Never fear though, Janelle is on hand to pass her a full one.
Cut to Lyn walking with Susan arm in arm as Suse tells her how she's such a great friend. Her eyes light up as Janelle hands her another full glass of wine. "Oooh! Thanks!" Lynnie tells Janelle off.
Scarlet Bar
Zeke wanders around and says hey to Kim at the quietest buck's... day ever. Men in business suits stand around probably talking about things like the stock market, and cigars and figs. Alex and Kim have a bit of a chuckle about how much Zeke sucks at skateboarding - in a nicer way than that of course! Speak of the Zeke, he lets his dad know he's off to practise some moves, he's got a theory about his centre of gravity. Alex sees that Karl has arrived and thanks him again for coming to the party.
Fancy Upmarket Rotunda
Now we're talkin'! All the gals have boas, funky headbands and things on while Susan is draped in a delightful green boa and veil. Janelle spies some beefy looking security guards and runs up to them to have a chat, pointing out Susan in the crowd. Susan dances around in the conga line and makes a face at her.
Ramsay Street
Zeke skates past Bree and Summer and kind of steps into a fall. Seriously. Where's the 30-year-old stunt 'Zeke' man when you need him? Bree says to just ignore him as they walk by. Sum asks if Bree thinks he's a little "unconvincing" to which Bree takes offence - only unconvincing people go out with other unconvincing people. Meanwhile, Zeke has recovered from his horrendous fall to do an equally badass trick - stepping on his board and catching it when it kicks up. He looks so proud of himself but slumps away dejectedly when he sees they're not looking. Hee!
Rachel saunters over to see what's going on as Bree clings to her arm, reclaiming her as her bestest friend ever (just because of what Sum unwittingly said). They walk off to the Scully house, gossiping away about Susan's hen's party. Poor little Summer sadly walks a few paces behind them.
Fancy Upmarket Rotunda
Susan is still in her conga line as Janelle leads the security men towards her. Lyn asks what she's up to now as Janelle holds up a video recorder. "Nothin'... I just told them she nicked a few bottles of wine!"
Susan is absolutely smashed it's hilarious! She thinks the men are STRIPPERS! but it seems as thought they're the real thing. "There's nothing better than a man in uniform than a man out of uniform!" Suse gloats, looking around like, 'Am I right or am I right, girls?' She does a wiggly little dance in front of them and pinches one on the butt resulting in them lifting her up by either arm and leading her away. She flails her legs about and giggles and chats madly, which is all being captured on Janelle-Cam. "You better get your money back!" she screeches and laughs, with Lynnie chasing after them trying to save her.
Drunk Susan is ACE!
Scarlet Bar
The camera pans from Alex, clutching at his throat like he's got something stuck in there, to Max talking to the troops. Are they ready for something a little hot and spicy? He hopes they are 'cause the kitchen is now open! Karl notices Alex gasping for breath and leads him into the office. No one else cares or even hears him breathing like a steam engine, they're too fixated on their upcoming chilli... or whatever.
Karl goes into doctor mode and sits Alex down on the couch, telling him to breath slowly, and loosening his tie and shirt for him. Alex gasps that he was stupid to think his lymphoma wouldn't come back.
ALEX: This new life I was planning... it's never going to happen is it?