Recap
- Dylan never wants to see or speak to Stingray ever again
- Janelle tells Mishka that she's going to fight for Lou
- Harold tells Stingray that he's got to take responsibility for his child - including giving up drinking
- Teresa tells Sky's baby (in utero) that, soon, she's going to take him/her away and they'll be together
Updated Alert - sequence now as follows
* The Steph/Max and Lyn/Oscar shot has a hot air balloon in the background instead of a plane
* Shot of Pepper and Rosetta by pool
* The Timmins
* Sky and Carmella sitting together
* Elle smiling
* Lou, Harold and Karl
* Pool shot with Will (in tiny speedos) hugging Pepper and Frazer hugging Rosetta
* Toadie and Ned
* Susan, Zeke and Rachel
* Elle hugging Paul
* Rachel, Zeke and Katya
* Boyd and Janae
Number 26
Sky walks in and it's a bit confusing for a moment as she's back to being slim. She calls on Stingray and he turns around, holding a baby in his arms. The dream sequence music starts up as he tells her the baby just fell asleep. Sky says he'll be a great dad.
STINGRAY: Y'know, now I know what I'm on this planet for. My mission, should I choose to accept, is to look after this little grub.
He walks over to Sky and thanks her for having faith in him. By giving him a chance to be a dad Sky's saved his life. Sky puts her arm around him and they gaze at their baby.
Back to reality...
Sky wakens from her dream to find herself in hospital. Teresa's standing over her, saying her blanket slipped off. Sky gets up and pulls out her suitcase; she has to go and see Stingray. Teresa wonders why as Stinger's a hopeless drunk but Sky reminds her that he's the father of her baby. Teresa wants to go with her but Sky doesn't think it's up to her to look out for her - she's doing this alone.
Karl comes in and Sky says she's going for a short walk. Teresa is about to follow her but Karl informs her he's going to walk her to her counselling session. Teresa tells him she wouldn't forgive herself if something happened to Sky. Karl reminds her she's not her responsibility.
Mishka appears to see she's missed Sky. She requests some of Karl's time so he reluctantly goes out into the hall with her, closing the door behind him. She tells him that she's sick - with longing. Lou-Bear will decide between her and 'bogan' tonight after her date with him. Mishka needs something for the nerves but Karl has no magic potion; Lou will just have to make his decision. If it doesn't go her way then she'll just have to accept it. That doesn't seem to be something Mishka is willing to do.
Karl just manages to grab Teresa, who's trying to make a run for it, and takes her to Dr Levi.
General Store
Harold, Bree, Rachel and Janae are setting up for the intervention. Bree knows Stingray won't like it and Harold agrees- no one likes being made to look at themselves. He might lash out. Janae thinks she can deal with Scotty - she always has done - but Harold tells her that he's not the same old Scotty. Rachel thinks they'll just have to dig around underneath to find the old Stingray. Harold thinks Stingray is lucky to have them - their love might just be his salvation.
Number 26/ Lassiter's Suite
Janae and Bree walk in. Janelle is on the phone to Dylan - she tells him they can't stand by and watch him fall apart. Dylan, lying on a bed with Elle, tells his mum not to watch, then. Janelle pleads with him to see this as a chance to have it out with his brother - then they can both move on. Dylan tells her that there's 'no chance in hell' he'd do that for that 'little slime', then hangs up.
Dylan tells Elle that he shouldn't have answered it. Elle says they can do this another time if he needs to be with his family. Dylan silences her with a kiss.
Back at number 26 and Janae is telling Janelle that it might be best that Dyl isn't involved. Emily Strange Bree agrees - he might do more harm than good. Janelle is going to call Lou but Janae snatches the phone away, telling her to stop using him. She only calls him when she needs to lean on him. Janelle asks what's wrong with that. Bree tells her that she's not doing it for the right reasons. Janelle hopes they aren't on Mishka's side. They say that Mishka really loves Lou and Janelle doesn't. Janelle argues that she does care for him. Bree tells her to prove it by ensuring he ends up with the right woman. Janelle goes quiet, contemplating it.
Scarlet Bar
Janelle is looking all down in the dumps when Lou breezes in, telling her he can't stay long as he's about to meet Mishka. Janae watches from another table as her mum tells him he's so good to drop everything for her. She says this meeting is to do with Stingray...and him.
JANELLE: I'm letting you go.
Lou thinks that playing her and Mishka off each other has led her to call it off but Janelle says she just realised that he's meant to be with Mishka. Lou says Mishka has hurt him (in more ways than one). Janelle implores him to let her make it up to him. Lou argues that Janelle is safer -
JANELLE: Oh, stop being a gutless wonder! You loved the Russian bird, so go and get her!
Lou smiles and asks if she really means it. She nods and tells him to give her a hug. Janae makes a face at this.
LOU: I always knew you were a wonderful woman.
JANELLE: So did I but - hey - who's going to listen?!
Oh, don't you just love Janelle?
They hug again, just as Mishka appears with a red rose (I feel a Frasier-type misunderstanding coming on). She watches them for a few seconds then turns and walks right back out again.
Janelle decides to go, telling Janae she'll meet her at 'the-you-know-what', then skedaddles.
Lou rushes off, just as Stingray comes in. How's that timing for ya? Scott's about to do a Mishka when Janae grabs him and tells him she's cool about the money. She'll forget about it if he has a coffee with her; she wants to catch up with him. But not here - at the store. Stingray gets it - she wants him away from temptation. Janae says she simply likes Lou's coffee better. Stingray turns and looks at some wine bottles, saying he'll see her in a couple of minutes.
Janae tells him she's not an idiot and Stingray informs her that he isn't either. Normally she wouldn't give up $100 without a fight, so what gives?
Janae punches him in the arm.
STINGRAY: Oi!
JANAE: Happy? Let's go.
Stingray takes one last look at the wine as he's led out the door.
General Store
Janae asks if he's been doing much skateboarding as she lets him into the store. All the tables have been cleared away and the chairs are placed round in a circle. Janae locks the door behind her as Stingray asks what's going on.
Harold, Rachel, Bree and Janelle emerge from the kitchen.
HAROLD: It's an intervention.
Stingray wants to go and tells Janae to open the door. Rachel tells him that they want to help him. Scott shouts that he doesn't need help. Harold physically moves him away from the door, saying he's behaving like a child. He tells him to sit down and listen while they deal with his problem.
STINGRAY: I don't have a problem!
Janelle says he does - and it's a big problem that affects all of them.
Hospital
Karl's banging on about Dr Levi but all Teresa cares about is the fact that Sky isn't back in her room. Karl tells her to focus; her physical state is normal so there's no reason to keep her in this ward. Teresa asks who will look after Sky and the baby. Karl says Sky has improved a lot.
Karl wants to shift Teresa to a new wing. Teresa takes this very well, realising she'll still be able to visit Sky. Karl goes off to see if her new room's ready.
Teresa pulls on her jacket and starts to make tracks.
Lassiter's
Sky is on the phone, leaving an answer message for Stingray. The reception won't give her Mr Timmins' room number and his hotel phone is on 'Do Not Disturb'.
Sky moans in pain, clutching her belly. She tells the concerned concierge that she thinks her baby is anxious to see its daddy. The concierge dutifully gives her the room number (Room 367, fact fans).
Sky runs into Mishka (dressed in her airline outfit), who's surprised that she's so big. She asks what she's doing out of bed and Sky says she's going to see Stingray - this is all one big stuff-up. Mishka tells her that it isn't - they find solutions to these things and grow. Sky's missed her. Mishka tells her to run along and see Stingray. Sky says she'll see her next time and Mishka reveals she might not be back - she's going to ask the airline for a different route as Lou doesn't want her. Sky thought Lou would've taken her back. Mishka tells her about the Lou-Janelle clinch - she knows he's made up his mind. Sky thinks she has to go and face him - otherwise she'll never know what might've been. A wise lady once told her...
SKY (impersonating MISHKA): Not all stuff-ups are bad...in ze end we grow!
Mishka has a chuckle.
Lassiter's
Dylan is getting dressed. Elle asks if he really has to go. Dyl thinks he has to attend this conference so he can catch up the Robinsons - he can't have them walking all over him! They begin to kiss again as there's a knock at the door. Dylan says that's his limo and Elle can't believe he ordered a limo to take him to the airport (as if she doesn't splash the cash...).
Dylan is kissing (and being kissed by) Elle as he opens the door. When he sees Sky he breaks apart, not looking in the least perturbed.
DYLAN: Sky, what a pleasant surprise.
Sky tells him she thought this was Stingray's room. Elle, looking uncomfortable, thinks it's an easy mistake to make; Scotty's room is in Loris' name. Sky, still in shock, thanks them and Dylan closes the door.
Dylan tells Elle that it's no big deal. She reminds him that Sky's her best friend...and was almost Dyl's wife! She asks if he feels guilty or regretful.
DYLAN: I'm a stakeholder in a successful corporation. I'm single, no longer saddled with a kid, and I've scored myself the most seriously delectable babe this side of the black stump! (hugs her) What's to regret?
He looks momentarily unhappy then smiles at her reassuringly.
General Store
This is gonna be one long summary...
Janelle is telling Stingray that it's not all his fault - he didn't have the most stable upbringing for starters. She knows she's not perfect but that's no excuse for him to ruin himself. He's better than this. She was so proud of the man he was turning into and it's not too late to be that guy again.
Janae (who really reminds me of Julia in Party Of Five today, for some reason...) recounts him borrowing money from her to buy a gift for the baby and then spending it all on booze.
JANAE: It broke my heart, Scott.
Bree says she forgave him for going off with Sky. He didn't have to go and drink himself stupid. She would've been there for him.
Harold says Sky needs his support. He can rise above this. He knows there's a good father in him - all he has to do is commit.
Rachel's turn; she was so proud of him when he gave up drink the first time. She loved him for that. But there's no point in being in love with someone whose first love is the bottle.
Suddenly, Stingray starts to see them shouting at him...
Janae tells him he's a useless drunk;
Janelle says he'll amount to nothing;
Harold tells him to be a better man - the baby needs him...
The voices all merge into an incoherent babble - he keeps hearing the word 'idiot', over and over.
STINGRAY: Shut up!
Janelle brings him back to reality. She tells him it's his turn now.
Lassiter's
Sky is crying. Teresa is walking towards her as Sky suddenly doubles over in pain. Teresa starts to run, asking what's wrong. Sky doesn't know. Teresa suggests it's a contraction but Sky says it can't be - it's too early. Teresa says she can't have it yet - it's not safe. She calls out for someone to phone an ambulance then looks back to Sky.
TERESA: It's too soon.
SKY: I know. I know.
Scarlet Bar
Mishka comes in and Lou-Bear remarks that he didn't think she was coming, which was crazy considering how much she wants him! Mishka thinks it's very cruel of him to rub her nose in it. She won't let him play games with her and make her feel bad. She's here to give him 'a piece of her brain' before she leaves him forever.
Lou doesn't understand. She tells him not to act surprised - it's an insult to her. She saw him - she knows he's in love with 'the bogan'. Lou tells her that she has it all wrong - he and Janelle were calling it all off. Mishka doesn't understand - she saw them! Lou says it was simply a goodbye hug between friends. Mishka wonders if he hugs Harold like that too. Lou says it was innocent. Mishka acts it out for him, giving him more than a friendly hug and Lou says it was more like a peck on the cheek. Mishka says it wasn't - he had his hands on her bahoochie (backside)! Lou says he did not and puts his hands onto her shoulders, starting to kiss her. The discussion about the hug is soon forgotten... Lou wins Mishka over.
General Store
Stingray is silent. Harold, calling him 'son', tells him they'll wait all night for him to speak. Stingray retorts that he's not his son.
STINGRAY: You don't have a son.
Janelle chides him and he decides to say what he has to say.
STINGRAY (to JANELLE): How dare you say you love me when you've always put yourself first.
He says she uses being a single parent as an excuse for slacking and still comes out a hero.
As for Janae, he's supported her through every one of her 'pathetic' relationships and never once judged her for the moll she is.
He turns to Rachel, asking why she's here when she's not even his girlfriend.
STINGRAY: And thanks, by the way, for giving up on me - it's always nice to know who you can count on.
Rachel, close to tears, shakes her head.
Harold's phone rings and he answers. Stingray tells him that's right - he doesn't stick around to finish something. He can dish it out but not take it.
Harold glares at him and moves away to take the call.
Stinger never expected Bree to join the witch-hunt...but why should he expect loyalty from her?
STINGRAY: You're not even my real sister.
Bree looks away. Janelle gets to her feet and slaps Stingray. Harold rushes over and tells them that Sky's gone into labour. Stingray's about to go out the back door but it's locked too. He wants to be at the birth but Harold doesn't want him anywhere near Sky after the way he's acted (and especially not near his great-grandchild). Janelle says she'll put him under house arrest - if he resists, she's calling the cops.
STINGRAY: I hate you.
Hospital
Karl's taking Sky's blood pressure (because, y'know, there are no other doctors in Erinsborough). Sky wants him to concentrate on the baby, not her, but Karl tells her they're one and the same. She says she's been having back pain but didn't think it was this - it's too soon. Karl says prem babies are born all the time and assures her that both her and the baby have come a long way with the bed rest. Dr Olenski has been paged to see if they can slow things down.
Harold arrives with Lou and Mishka. Mishka jokes that Sky thinks she has problems - she's Lou's girlfriend again!
MISHKA: Hold on to your kittens!
They laugh. Sky says she was looking for Stingray but couldn't find him - she asks Harold to. He says all in good time.
Teresa appears and starts shouting at Sky, telling her she put her baby's life in danger by leaving the hospital. Harold puts an arm around Sky as Karl tries to pull Teresa away. Teresa shouts that Sky can't look after her own baby!
Security arrives to take her to the psych ward.
TERESA: No - she can't be trusted. You don't deserve that baby!
Number 26
Janelle, Rachel and Bree are staring at Stingray and it's doing his head in. He moves to go to the kitchen - Janelle informs him that they've cleaned out all the booze. Stingray spots some keys on the DVD player. He turns to Bree and tells her how sorry he is about what he said. He says he was just trying to hit back. Rachel says they were all telling him the truth. Scott knows - he deserves it - and he's going to make it up to them.
Stingray goes over to Janelle and tells her he doesn't hate her but hates seeing himself through her eyes. He loves her. Janelle loves him too - she just wants the old Scotty back.
Stingray goes up to the DVD player and closes his hand over the keys, saying he just wants to be alone right now. He turns and walks to the kitchen, the keys in his hand. Rachel goes over to Janelle, wondering if Scott will sneak through the back door. Janelle reassures her that it's deadlocked. She wants them to have faith - Scott's turned the corner. Bree thinks that if it was that easy they'd been no alcoholics in the world. Wise words. Janelle thinks he has a great support network and that's given him the edge. Rachel is optimistic that he could be fine by the time the baby gets here.
BREE: Gimme a break.
Janelle says it might be better if Rachel goes home as Scotty might not be comfortable letting out his emotions in front of her. Rachel agrees and goes to say goodbye to Stingray...
...who is, of course, long gone...
Rachel tells them the back door is wide open. Janelle shouts for him and runs out as Bree and Rachel look at each other.