The Scarlet Bar
Lyn and Steph tell Toadie that Steph had a dream about him chasing her down a beach, and kissing her. Toadie wants to know if he was any good. Embarrassed, Lyn runs off, and Steph reminds Toadie that the dream means nothing - imagine the two of them together!

The General Store
Ned leaves Katya as he runs to Toadie's side in his time of need! Katya also leaves, passing Mishky on the way out. She tells Lou that she hates to leave him at this difficult time, with Kerry gone, so she's decided to call the airline and see what time she's meant to leave. After speaking what sounds like very dodgy Russian to me, she announces that with all the luck in the world, their plane is grounded for mechanical reasons.

LOU: Praise be for Russian maintenance.

They hug, and I just *heart* Mishka. I *heart heart* her.

The Scarlet Bar
Toadie is talking at Ned about how he's feeling, and Ned doesn't get it - he can't follow the story at all. Toadie tells Ned he needs help to get back into number thirty, so can he please chuck someone out?! Ned thought that Steph was happy to have him there, and Toadie makes some excuse about Charlie being difficult.

NED: Well, I'll take your Charlie and raise you a Pepper.

Toadie suggests that Ned evict Pepper - he needs his room back! In his house! By tomorrow!

Number 30
Pepper and Fraser are talking about Derby Day - having an anti-Derby Day picnic. I like Pepper, but I'm bored already. Zeke is cleaning in the corner of the kitchen, listening to their conversation, and Fraser gives in - he'll have the picnic. Pepper hunts for food, and Zeke stands up - wow, he's grown; he's taller than her. Zeke offers to go and get the picnic food for her, and she's all pleased, thinking that Zeke is so sweet. He begins to lecture her on needing a better man, someone who would really *want* to go on a picnic, not just play along with her ideas. She writes Zeke a shopping list, but he just stares at her, gazing. Oh, Zeke. Falling hook, line and sinker...

An Outside Space - AKA the edge of the Global Studios complex
Katya is standing with a very nice car, and Mary Sheen is there, waiting to collect it. She discusses the fact that Katya used to steal cars for her on a weekly basis before, but Katya just demands her cash, which is handed over.

Number 30
Pepper is getting Zeke to tell her which top looks nicest, but Zeke doesn't understand why she should try to impress her fiancé. Zeke tells her that Fraser doesn't notice these things about her - like which top brings out the blue in her eyes the most... Aw! He's so in with her.

Pepper just think that Zeke is sweet, and he resigns himself to realising she loves Fraser - until she thanks him for helping by kissing him on the forehead and telling him he's her favourite student.

I bet he doesn't wash for weeks. Not that I did that when my favourite people kissed me, once. Nope. No.

Not me.

No.

The General Store
A distracted Lou chats with Mishka about Sky and Kerry as they serve Guy. Guy claims he gave them a fifty when Lou presents him with his change, but Mishka maintains he gave them a twenty. Lou overrules Mishka, handing Guy the change he's asking for, so Mishka pickpockets Guy on the way out, disguising it by stuffing a napkin in his pocket, being a helpful waitress! Have I mentioned that I *heart* Mishka?

The Scarlet Bar
In the room behind the bar Steph thanks Toadie for all his help, and he breaks the news to her about moving back into his house now there's a room available. Steph understands - living with a mum and baby... But he says it hasn't been a drag, he's just moving next door.

The Lassiters Rotunda
Pepper and Zeke are setting up the picnic, and Zeke lets slip that he thinks Pepper's perfect - then covers, by saying he meant that the picnic's perfect! Pepper sees Fraser coming and tells Zeke to leave immediately! Sadly for Pep, Fraser has brought Ned along, too, with some beers. I bet the latter is more entertaining.

Pep asks to speak to Fraser in private, and tells him that she wanted it to be the two of them. Zeke listens in. Fraser thinks the whole engagement thing was a bad idea, but Pepper promises him that after last night, there is still no more to them than there ever was! If you can follow that; I sure can't. Fraser is pleased, and goes back to the party - and Ned. Ooooh - and Ned. Can you see a storyline / coupling coming on here?!

Zeke is cross for poor Pep, and breaks a stick in half to prove it.

This is an odd episode.

The Scarlet Bar
Lyn and Ned are chatting about Fraser's sense of romance, and Ned comments that he's also an Aussie bloke, so...

LYN: Yeah, but Ned, you're not typical. You know, you're, you're...

Stupid? Annoying? Wooden? Categorically and mind-numbingly incontrovertibly boring?

LYN:...nice.

Ah. The word that actually describes all the above, but diplomatically. Ned starts to explain to Lyn that he has to kick one of his housemates out, and he doesn't know which one. So, of course, Lyn wants to know why Toadie wants to leave her daughter and move back to number 30 (certainly beats me, too)...but then she suddenly gets it. And tells Ned not to kick anyone out.

The General Store
Mishka's phone is ringing in the kitchen, and in her absence (she's talking to a customer), Lou answers it. It's her workplace, and Lou wonders if they're calling about the plane being ready to go. But no. They're calling to say they're sorry that Mishy is so sick. So sick that she's infectious and endangering the lives of others, apparently.

Lou confronts Mishka, and she admits she pulled a sickie - but she doesn't want to leave until Sky and Kerry are back together.

MISHKA: I know we say we not lie to each other but I love you too much to keep big promise.
LOU: That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I think.

They hug and I'm all again. I *HEART* her.

The Hospital
New jazzy set. Teal and a cherry pine.

Lyn and Oscar sit with Toadie and Lyn tells him that she shouldn't have opened her mouth about Steph's dream, and not to worry, because Steph hasn't fallen for him! Toadie just thinks things should get back to normal. But Lyn tells him she loves knowing he's there for Toadie and Steph, and Steph's had a hard time, lately. Toadie has made her laugh, and because she feels safe with him to catch her if she falls...

Toadie wants to drop it - they can see Sky now, anyway.

The Scarlet Bar
Katya hands Guy the cash, and admits she took some of the cash for herself. She also threatens to go to the cops if he doesn't leave her alone - but he knows she won't, or everyone she knows will get a copy of her latest DVD. Really? No offence, but if I got a DVD of Katya I'd throw it away, regardless of the content. Ned comes in, and Guy tells Ned he and Kat went through nursing school together - he'd love to tell him some stories about her. Stupid Ned sits down, and Katya doesn't look best pleased.

Ramsay Street - by night
It's so dark, one can barely see anything. But Zeke is practising cricket, and Pepper comes out from her house, presumably sleepwalking in her nighty. She approaches Zeke, and tells him she's fallen in love with him - she wants them to be more than friends. Zeke is gobsmacked and confused, bless him!

The Scarlet Bar
Wow, this set is annoying me today. How many times do we have to be here?

Guy tells Ned how popular Katya was in college, never saying no to a challenge. Ned is intrigued, but goes to get more drinks for Guy - he wants to know more about his girlfriend, after all! Ned goes to the bar, and Kat demands that Guy leaves. He does, but he wants another $20K, please.

Oh, and he passes her some drugs on the way out in a little foil pouch, and she sticks it in her bra.

I watch Border Security - I know what that stuff is.

In the back room, Toadie is updating Steph on the case with Max's appearance; they won't seize the Scarlet Bar because of Max's mental state. Steph is thrilled, and wants to take him out for dinner as a thank you, with her and Charlie. Who, incidentally, is wearing a non-white babygrow. Toadie relents. And he also tells her that he's not moving out - no-one's leaving number thirty after all.

They hug, with Charlie, and look all family-like.

Number 30
Ned can't believe that Guy just disappeared, but Katya doesn't want to talk about him. She's tired, and doesn't want to go out clubbing, so Ned offers her a nice, hot bath with some champagne. Off he goes, and Katya takes the drugs out, flushing them down the sink. Cos, you know, that's what you do with drugs you don't want.