Erinsborough Hospital Room 303
In a sort-of montage, we cut between scene after scene where Paul learns the truth about how he is through Gail, through Elle's invites to the party, and through the Ramsay Street residents.

Gail tells Paul that he tried to con the Timminses - even after baby Kerry was diagnosed with leukaemia. I wonder how she knew about that? I guess someone told her.

Number 26
Bree reads out Elle's party invite to Janelle and Steiger, where she has asked that Paul's past isn't mentioned to him, and can they please move on...

JANELLE: She's seriously asking us to come along to this cr*ppy shindig and make like he's a saint?
BREE: She's practically begging.

Hey - this episode title has been ripped off before...we had a Nude, Where's My Jar in 4823.

Number 30
Elle is asking Pepper to go to the party and forgive her father for how he treated her. Pep is rather indignant, and Adam stands, listening. Elle tells Pepper that Paul's tumour was responsible.

Erinsborough Hospital Room 303
Paul realising that he just tossed Pepper aside without a second thought to her feelings. Gail - or 'Gayle' as the Herald Sun would have us believe - responds:

GAIL: Yep. Well, you did always have a bit of a weakness in that department. Sorry, perhaps we should stay off the subject of women.

A stringy violin starts up in the background.

PAUL: Please tell me I didn't do anything to hurt Harold?

The General Store
...where Harry, Lou, Boyd, Sky, Kerry and Steph are; Elle begs for forgiveness for her dad.

Erinsborough Hospital Room 303

PAUL: And Robert killed half of Harold's family with a bomb that was meant for me?

Gail and her new haircut nod along.

PAUL: Was I at least remorseful?

The haircut sadly shakes its head.

GAIL: But you have to remember, it wasn't really you.

The stringy violin hits new melodic heights.

The General Store
Steph says she can't pretend that Paul didn't threaten Max.

Erinsborough Hospital Room 303

PAUL: So I bought a gun to kill one of my neighbours.
GAIL: Max Hoyland.
PAUL: I didn't do it, did I?
GAIL: Ah, no...

The violin slides down a notch.

PAUL: But...?
GAIL: He had a nervous breakdown and his marriage fell apart. And so did yours.

Number 28
Elle says she knows that the Kennedys have issues with the way Paul treated Lyn... But ever forgiving and ever gracious, Susan quickly says that they'll come to the party.

KARL: Ah...
SUSAN: It'll be nice to see Gail again. Because we're having a secret affair.

Elle pushes her luck even further by adding that she'd appreciate it if they gave the impression that her dad's a good guy - why ruin his chance at a new life?

Erinsborough Hospital Room 303

PAUL: How on earth can I ever expect anyone to forgive me for what I've done?
GAIL: It's all in the past. They've already moved on.

She's clearly not talking about some of the viewers but we'll go with it for now because it seems like the only way out of the artist formerly known as Paul 'Pantomime Villain' Robinson.

Paul says it's not in the past for him.

Number 30
Adam can't believe that Pepper went out with Elle's old man - what did she see in him. Adam wants to know.

PEPPER: It was just some silly short-lived fling. Not even a fling, a...'fl'. Besides, it was never going anywhere whilst he was still in love with Rosie.

Adam can't believe Paul also loved Rosie - how did she feel about it? She went out with him behind her best friend's back?!

The Bush
Ringo and Carmella are in a one-star tent, and Ringo tells her that he has everything she will need - including water, and Carmy needs to keep her fluids up. She doesn't want any. In fact, she's checking out and going to find civilisation. Now now, Carmella - we all know what happens to characters in soaps who try and do that.

But back to the tent. Ringo tells Carmella that the nearest town is 22kms away, and he doesn't think it's a good idea for her to cross a mountain range in the dark. I do, but then I don't think he has the same motive as me.

Carmella is so cross - what gives Ringo the right to hold her against her will? She has no problem with medication, and how dumb is he to think that one night in a smelly tent will fix her? Ringo House MD says that nothing will stop him breaking her addiction.

Methinks that Ringo has a little addiction of his own...

Erinsborough Hospital Room 303
Gail brings Paul some dinner and a tea. He sits quietly on the bed; he doesn't want it, so she asks him if he'd like something else. He shakes his head again.

GAIL: Ready to go to Elle's?
PAUL: (quietly) Can I have a minute, please.

Gail leaves, and Paul retrieves a photo he has of him and his ex-wife. Aw, it's true love.

Number 30

PEPPER: You know what's it's like when you really like someone that you go out with but they don't like you that much but you figure if you hang out long enough that they might learn to like you?
ADAM: No, I don't.

Oliver comes home, wondering if Carmella is still around, or if she's been eaten by those hyenas. Obviously, he doesn't actually ask the last part because he hasn't seen my preview. He wonders if she's left a message or note or something.

Adam strops off over the whole Paul thing, whilst Oliver continues to stress about where Carmella and Oliver are; Pepper suggests that maybe Rachel would know.

Number 28
Rolling her eyes, Susan and Karl leave the bedroom. Karl has his vest on, and one's mind immediately wanders to what they were doing in there. Sadly, it looks like Susan was in the middle of ironing, so it couldn't have been anything that took too much time.

KARL: I would rather eat dirt, plunge chopsticks into my eyes, pull out a tooth without an anaesthetic...
SUSAN: Oh stop it! It's the casino, it's not a firing squad.
KARL: It's hell.

Karl hates his clients, and he hates schmoozing and he hates Davo, and he hates his job!

SUSAN: You were never this bitter and twisted when you were a doctor...
KARL: No no no no no no! Don't you start; I'll get on top of this.

Damn, she's rumbled. Susan starts ironing, and Rachel answers the door to Oliver. Oliver wonders if Rach has seen Ringo, and she hasn't. Oliver says he called Sunny Ridge - where they were supposed to be - and they never turned up. Rachel tells Oliver of her suspicions, despite Susan's protestations. Rachel says that Carmella tells Ringo everything - she knows about him and Elle, and everyone in the street knows that he's messing Carmella around...

The Bush
Carmella tries to get on Ringo's good side by asking him about the magazine he's reading, and apologising for her behaviour before. She admits he's a really good friend to her, and she knows why he's done it. She thinks it's quite sweet, and it's nice under the stars. Ringo tells her he cares about her, and Carmella returns the gesture.

She decides to have a sleep - it will do her good. She settles down in her sleeping bag. She didn't even check it for spiders. Shocking.

Adam's Place
Pepper storms in to Adam's house, declaring that he can't judge her over her past relationships. She's been out with some really stupid guys, and she doesn't need him making her feel bad all over again. He apologises to her, and says it's because he really likes her - he couldn't stand the thought of her putting up with that cr*p. Pepper is touched.

PEPPER: Well I won't. I'm not going to let a male treat me that way again. No matter how good he looks in a towel.

Adam glances down at the towel he's wearing since coming out of the shower.

The House of PEG
Paul returns home with Gail and her hair. Gail thinks they should perhaps cancel the BBQ, as they can't get in touch with Elle - it's not fair that half the street turn up when Elle doesn't know the state of play. But Paul refuses - if it wasn't for Elle, he would have already spoken to his neighbours and said sorry. Gail defends their daughter's actions: she loves her dad and wanted to find some way of being close to him.

Paul thinks Elle has deceived him - she has been controlling him since the day he woke up and now he wants control back.

The Bush
Carmella and Ringo are asleep - or are they? Carmella checks that Ringo's asleep, then noisily opens her handbag to get her pills. Honestly - as if he's not going to hear that! You're in a TENT! Ringo indeed does hear, and grabs her to stop her from taking them. She says she's not happy and tells him to throw the pill away. He gives it back to her - she has to do it herself.

Carmella looks at the mint imperial pill and chucks it out the tent. Which is open. In the dark. In the Bush. Where there are spiders, and probably hyenas and rhinos, too.

Cut to the next morning and Ringo awakes to find Carmella up and at a picnic table. She admits that she's been able to sit back and think about things - he's helped her to see sense, and she's grateful. She's been avoiding dealing with an even bigger issue in her life, and that's about to change. They agree to go home. Because, you know, a night in the Bush will solve a drug problem.

The General Store
Pepper and Adam are waiting to meet Steiger. Pep tells Adam not to freak out - most guys do when they meet her dad. Adam isn't nervous in the slightest. Steiger comes in and Pepper kisses him on the cheek.

STEIGER: That's a pretty good grip you've got there, son. But I should warn you, I keep a very close eye on all my daughter's potential boyfriends, and so far none of them have measured up.
ADAM: Pepper is one in a million, and she deserves the best.

Steiger seems impressed and they all sit down.

Number 28
Rachel washes up in the kitchen - because that's the place where washing up happens. Ringo is there, trying to explain the situation, and why he couldn't tell Rachel the truth. Rachel is very upset, but Ringo defends his actions; he had to keep Carmella in the dark so he could protect her from herself. They hug.

Number 26
Steiger is telling Janelle about Adam, and Bree, Steph, Charlie and Toadie are all listening in. Janelle thinks it's great that Pepper's in love, but Steiger isn't sure; Steph vouches for Adam. Steiger runs to the bathroom with his malarial bug, about to throw up. Well, that's nice.

Bree informs her mum that 'the gang' is all here. This gang is a large one, comprising Boyd, Sky, Kerry, Susan, Karl, Lou and Harold.

JANELLE: I call this residents' meeting to order! Are we going to scumbag's do or what?
SUSAN: Is that what this is about?!
LOU: Wouldn't go if you paid me.
JANELLE: Atta boy.
LOU: If part of the deal is to pretend to be nice to him, forget it.
SKY: Yeah, but if he has changed, aren't you curious to see?
BOYD: I wanna see it for myself.
JANELLE: See what?
TOADIE: Well, apparently, since they took the ice cream scoop to Paul's skull, he's gone all warm and fuzzy like a koala.
BREE: Yeah, one with rabies.
JANELLE: Right, let's vote.
SUSAN: Oh, Janelle!
JANELLE: If more people wanna go than not, then we all go. If not, then none of us.
KARL: Can't we just take individual responsibility for our own actions?

Janelle takes a vote - and it's five both ways. A draw. Janelle has a way to break the deadlock:

JANELLE: The only way to break the tie is to have a member from each side see who can start a fire the fastest with basic tools. You against me, Suse.
SUSAN: WHAT?!
JANELLE: And if you decline, then we win, and it's a no to Stumpy's shindig.

But then Steiger appears and says he wouldn't miss Paul's do for anything - they're all going.

The House of PEG
Elle tries to convince her dad once again that Gail must be lying, but Paul doesn't want to know. Elle pouts pathetically and said she did it to save him. Even though he knows the truth, she's still trying to lie, it's so ridiculous. Get over yourself, Elle. Paul tells his daughter that she had no right to make the call she did, and now Elle turns on Gail - how dare she tell the man she loves the truth! The horror of it!

There's a knock at the door - it's the gang who've turned up to hear Paul's apologies. Gail welcomes everyone. On entering, Steiger immediately legs it up the stairs to throw up again.

JANELLE: So, er, where's the guest of dishonour? I'm not gonna make like he's a saint.
ELLE: (sulking) You don't have to pretend anymore.
JANELLE: Good.

In the corner, Susan is whispering to Bree, who nods and sits herself next to Karl on the sofa. She pretends to be tired - she hasn't been sleeping well. Karl asks her questions about being stressed, and her pre-sleep routine. Susan watches on, and as Karl tells Bree that she should stop drinking caffeine before she goes to bed, Susan gives the young Timmins the thumbs up.

Just as she does, Paul appears with Gail, from upstairs. Paul thanks everyone for coming - he knows he doesn't deserve it. Paul begins a rather heartfelt apology - he's ashamed of the way he's treated everyone. Especially Harold and his family - trying to steal David's wife was unforgivable. He says he could never be as generous as they've been to him, and he would understand if they never wanted to have anything to do with him again.

Gail puts her hand on his shoulder.

Number 30
Oliver is sitting and waiting, staring at the television when Carmella returns home. He wants to know where she's been, given that Ringo's been back for ages; Carmella tells him she dumped the van and went for a walk. Carmella tells Oliver that they are not fine and their relationship isn't working for either of them.

The House of PEG
Karl asks his lovely wife Susan if she thinks Paul is on the level, and she does; Paul was broken.

BREE: It's so weird, though - he went from Mister Burns to Ned Flanders overnight.
JANELLE: Yeah, you're right. Who on the street are we going to hate now?

Ned? Carmella? Oliver? Elle?

Paul announces that there's a barbecue sizzling outside. Lou offers to take the meat to the BBQ for him, and Paul is thrilled that he's there. Paul then says that he's made sure there's some vegetarian food for Harry, and Harold is grateful. Paul is so happy that people are accepting him.

Gail prepares food at the kitchen table, and tells her ex husband that they are such good people, and if they can forgive him, then he should be able to forgive himself. Elle hovers in the kitchen, and apologises to her dad for keeping things from him. Elle goes out to the barbecue to join the others.

Gail tells Paul that she will pack and leave, now, but he takes her hands - he doesn't want her to leave. Gail reminds him that Elle's there to look after him. But Paul doesn't want Elle - he has no connection with her. She has lied to him constantly, and how can he trust her, love her - or even like her??

Elle - who has wandered back into the kitchen - overhears every word.

Life sucks, eh, Elle.