Recap (with exciting recap music)
Janae accuses Sally Herbert of planting morphine in Boyd's bag
Max runs Cam over
Paul stares at Max, telling Carmella that his promise to stop his anger and hate is invalid now that Cam's dead
Boyd puts drugs in Katya's bag; she has it coming.
Number 30
Janae thinks Boyd's gutless for planting drugs in Katya's bag and then leaving her to take the consequences. Boyd didn't know what else to do. No one is going to believe the truth and they have to protect themselves. Janae reminds him that the whole thing isn't Katya's fault - just like Dr Herbert stitched up Boyd to protect herself, he's doing likewise to Katya! Boyd says nothing would have happened hadn't Janae picked a fight with Herbert in the first place. Janae shouts that she had it coming...but Katya doesn't.
Boyd says that Katya so does deserve it. She tried to split up Max and Steph and now she's spreading rumours around the hospital that she and Max are an item! He's not going to do a thing to stop it.
Ramsay Street
Susan and Lyn are looking at the large 'For Sale' sign in front of number 26. Lyn is sad, thinking about all the good times she had in the house. Susan reminds her that it ain't over yet but Lyn is pessimistic. She can't believe she's lost Oscar and the Timmins their home. Paul is due back and Lyn has to break the news to him that she's lost their business. Lyn sees Max and waves to him.
A taxi pulls up and we go into MV mode (accompanied by Brooke Fraser's Scarlet) as Paul gets out. The first person he sees is Max and they stare at each other for a moment before Paul turns away. Max walks to his X-trail, running his hand along it as he walks to the door and opens it. As he looks inside he freezes, and the noise of his collision with Cam plays over in his head. He slams the door shut and dives to the ground, distressed.
Number 22
Paul is sorry that things have got so bad that Lyn is losing her house. Lyn says there are worse things to lose and goes to hug him but he pulls away; he needs some time alone. Lyn says he knows where she is if he needs her, then leaves.
Paul opens his briefcase.
Inside is a gun.
He slams it shut.
Number 32
Steph comes in and asks Max if she really did just see their car driving off down the road. Max informs her that he sold it; he tried to drive it this morning and couldn't.
STEPH: Why not?
MAX: It's the accident, Steph. I'm sorry.
He didn't ever want to be in it again so thought he'd sell it, just like that. He's going to leave this all behind - it's onwards and upwards from now on!
Steph asks what they do for a car now. Max tells her they can start looking for a new one tomorrow. She thinks it's all very sudden. Max thinks he should be this impulsive more often, then races off to water some compost. Steph wants to say something more but he's already left the room.
Lassiter's Lake
After the commercials Steph is taking Charlie for a walk - accompanied, of course, by her NewVeryBestFriend, Toadie. She tells him about Max selling the car. Toadie agrees that it doesn't sound like Max at all - he wouldn't have seen the old Max wanting to buy a brand new car either.
Steph had thought that he was coping with the accident. Toadie tells her that it's a natural way of coping - he got rid of his brown suit, just like Max got rid of the car. Steph thinks it's an extreme way of dealing with it (but then it was an extreme trauma).
Toadie tells her to be patient - Max will get through this.
Another part of Lassiter's Lake
Ned is playing personal trainer to Loris. Ned says Toadie's pretty happy with the contracts. He has even brought them along to sign but Loris hasn't her cheque book with her. She suggests that he come along to a women's association cocktail party this afternoon - she can give him the cheque and he can network for new clients. Ned agrees.
Toadie appears and tells Loris that she really reminds him of someone. Loris quickly makes herself scarce.
Number 28
Katya tells Susan that she's been suspended from work over the morphine thing. When Susan muses that she's been through a rough time Katya demands to know if she thinks she took them - once a user, always a user? Susan was just giving her the opportunity to come clean if she had used them. Katya reiterates that she didn't and Susan believes her.
Susan thinks it's terrible - who would set her up? Katya gets on well with everyone - she's only rowed with one person and that's Boyd. You can see the cogs in Susan's brain beginning to turn.
Number 30
Ned is all dressed up. As he leaves Susan arrives to see Janae. She wonders if Janae would know of anyone who has it in for Katya. Janae says she doesn't. Susan says it's a very serious matter - Katya could even go to jail! Janae is shocked and blurts out that it was all down to her and Boyd. She rambles on about finding the drugs and not knowing what to do with them so she panicked and put them in Katya's bag. Susan thinks she should say something; she'll give her a lift to the hospital.
Number 22
Max is paying Paul a visit. He tells him he watered his garden while he was away. Paul doesn't say much as Max rabbits on about keeping on top of things. Paul looks to his briefcase then brings himself back to their discussion about horticulture (and how interesting, not to mention educational, a discussion it is). Max tells him to let him know if he needs any help, just as Lyn arrives. Paul tells her about Max's offer and Lyn thinks it was nice of him. Paul says, seemingly genuinely, that he appreciates it.
Max leaves and Lyn tells Paul that he's one amazing man. To have forgiven Max...he's so strong. She hugs him and Paul throws another glance in the direction of his briefcase.
Erinsborough Hospital
After ads we find Janae being interviewed by Erinsborough's only detective, Detective Skinner. She tells him she planted the drugs in Katya's bag without her knowledge, and they happened to be in her possession because Dr Herbert planted them on Boyd.
He leaves and Boyd sneaks in. Janae tells him she told them and is disgusted when he says it was already arranged that Katya would be the one to save his career, not Janae. Janae thinks that he's not angry with Katya but his dad - he won't allow himself to blame Max so he takes it out on Katya. Boyd denies this. Janae discovers that he hasn't even talked to Max about it. She doesn't think they could have ever had an affair! After all who told him that Katya had said that in the first place?
Evil Dr Herbert, that's who.
Boyd puts his thinking face on.
Cocktail Party
Loris introduces herself to some ladies as Loris Beaumont. They've never heard of her. She tells her about her hubby being away on business and that she's got a toy boy, who'll be here at any minute.
The ladies are shocked to see Ned come in and almost sweep Loris off her feet. He whispers to her that she wanted a toy boy, so she's got one!
Number 32
Steph is playing with Charlie and wants Max to join in but he can't as his greenfingers are all grubby.
Toadie pops round to thank Max for weeding his garden. Steph is surprised and thinks it was so nice of him. Toadie thinks it must've taken ages as Max even pruned back Lionel, the lemon tree.
Max asks him over to share a few tinnies while they watch the footy but Toadie has work to do. But if he thought that would stop Max then he was wrong; Max thinks he could bring his work here and set up at the table. It's not like he wouldn't have the telly on at number 30 (even though you're not meant to do your homework with the telly on). Toadie thanks him but wants to maintain at least some illusion of professionalism.
Max walks off to another room to give Toadie a chance to tell Steph that he thinks she's right. Max has done all the garden work and now he's inviting Toadie over - he's seriously looking to be distracted. Steph thinks that maybe Max's been thinking and found that helping others is good therapy. Toadie thinks she should be concerned but Steph tells him that Max is moving on, that everything he's doing is positive.
Number 30
Susan, sitting with Katya, tells Boyd and Janae that the police believe Janae's statement and Katya has been reinstated at work. Janae is so relieved but Katya is still raging, yelling that all her colleagues think she's a junkie! She can't believe Janae was going to let her take the fall. Boyd yells that it wasn't Janae's fault - he planted the drugs. Susan says he must've known what would happen to Katya. Boyd asks what about what she's done to his family? Spreading all those affair rumours and so on. Katya asks where he heard it from and he tells her Dr Herbert told him.
Cocktail Party
As Ned mingles Loris runs upstairs and loans Janae some money for the rent. Loris says she's working on a job for Janae, but, nevertheless, a sensible girl would finish school. Janae says she's no good at it. Loris only wishes she could help other members of her family. Janae mentions that the Timmins are in need of just about everything. Loris gives Janae some more cash and says there's no need to give it all back.
Ned breaks away from talking to the ladies and goes over to Loris, who has returned back downstairs. The ladies think he's a gorgeous young man.
Away from them Ned tells Loris that she really should have asked first that she use him to impress her friends. Loris asks if she was that transparent. Ned knows she would never have forgotten her chequebook, unless on purpose. Loris thanks him for not giving him away.
Ramsay Street
Boyd is out in the dark, on the phone to Janae. He sees Max walking out onto the street before stopping and staring at number 22. Boyd calls out to him and Max turns around.
Number 22
Paul looks at the gun again then shuts the suitcase and flops back onto the sofa, looking a bit mad and freaked out, seemingly overcome with trying to reach a decision.
Ramsay Street
Max tells Boyd that nothing did happen with Katya, something that Boyd knows now. He would've known sooner if he had just talked to his dad about it. Max thinks he is maturing well, despite Boyd's worries; being able to admit to making mistakes is a sure sign.
Boyd apologises for not giving Max that benefit of the doubt.
Paul walks down number 22's driveway. He hides a little when he sees Max and Boyd talking. Max tells Boyd that he can always talk to him, no matter what. They say they love each other and hug, something that Paul can't bear to watch.
After such a profound moment Boyd and Max start talking about footy.
Number 22
Paul bursts in and retrieves the gun.
Ramsay Street
Boyd and Max part. Max walks down the road, followed by Paul!
Number 22
After commercials Lyn lets herself into the empty house with some food for Paul. She spots a letter addressed to Elle and opens it up.
We hear Paul's voice as she reads it:
"My dear Elle,
As you read this I know you are shocked and confused. Not being there in your life is one thing I truly regret, but your life is a better place without me in it and that's one of the reasons why I'm doing what I'm doing..."
LYN: What is it that you're doing?
"But Cameron's death, taking away any chance of getting to know him...that was down to Max Hoyland. He killed him.
And I'm going to make him pay for it."
Jeez-oh, thinks Lyn, and gasps. She drops the letter.
Lassiter's Lake
Max turns around, looking for something, but doesn't see anything. He starts to walk again but still hears someone following him. He spins round but it's all X-Filey and dark, so he asks if someone's there. He turns back round and - eek - Paul is standing there, in his suit, all still and spooky.
MAX: Paul.
He sees the gun in Paul's hand. The two men stare at each other as we fade to black.