Number 26
Ned and Toadie return home, where Janae begs her boyfriend not to be mad at her for what happened. Ned isn't interested - and tells her that she's stuffed their chances because Tim has pounced on this. Toadie tries to calm the situation and reminds them of the psychologist meeting tomorrow which is going to make or break this situation.

NED: Mickey is the most important thing in the world to me. No-one and nothing comes ahead of him. Is that clear.
JANAE: Crystal.

Janae walks off.

Outside Number 26
Miranda and Steve are bringing boxes out of the garage and unpacking bits and pieces - and find a clay dog that Didge made when she was eight. Miranda and Steve are all nostalgic. Then:

MIRANDA: I thought you were terrific at footy practice the other day.
DIDGE: Alright, what have you done with my mum?!

Miranda's being serious - her daughter was quick across the pitch! Bridget invites her mum to her practice match the next day, and then runs off to Rachel's. Steve comes up behind Miranda and gives her a cuddle.

STEVE: Okay, let it out.
MIRANDA: A practice match??! Training was bad enough with all those boof heads knocking each other to the ground.
STEVE: You're really warming to this relaxed parenting style, aren't you?
MIRANDA: Of course she'll be alright...
STEVE: Of course.
MIRANDA: But if anything happens, you're wearing it, understood?

Ned comes out the house to talk to his brother.

The General Store
Adam and Pepper are talking about her operation, and he tries to sympathise by telling her about an operation he had to have on his arm where he had a tattoo done which got pussy and infected. Charming. Susan comes in and watches him trying to reassure Pepper, before he goes to get to order food. Susan approaches Pep and offers to do her year ten marking whilst she's off. Pepper's very grateful. Susan confides that she's had the same procedure before, and it's very safe and effective. She admits she was very scared, too, but cancer is such a remote possibility that Pepper shouldn't worry about it. Pepper wonders if Susan is just being nice because Susan's just......very nice. But Suse tells her that everything will be okay.

Number 26
Outside, Ned and Steve are throwing a football, and Ned admits to his brother that he really yelled at Janae before. Steve says that Janae will be fine - but she has to realise that she can't just shoot her mouth off in this situation, even though what she's saying is coming from a good place. Steve also advises not to let this come between them, especially with the psychologist meeting tomorrow...they can't risk it.

Cue that lovely music from the official 'A Change Is Coming' preview clip not that long ago. I love that piece.

Inside, Janae is talking to Miranda about how much she's stuffed up with Ned.

JANAE: He made it pretty clear that he would choose Mickey over me if it came down to it.
MIRANDA: That's just what being a parent means. He doesn't love you any less for wanting to protect Mickey.

Miranda advises that Janae may well be right about Kirsten, but it doesn't help the big issue. Janae rather dramatically thinks that from now on she should be an ice queen! Miranda suggests that she shouldn't change who she is, but instead just keep away from Kirsten.

Ned comes in and Miranda subtly leaves to go help Steve. Ned opens his arms to Janae and they hug before she apologises.

Kennedys

KARL: Balanced. Poised. Relaxed.
RINGO: In the hole!
ZEKE: Missed.

Karl is practising his putting, into a mug in the lounge. Ringo and Zeke are watching.

RINGO: You know, it's a little bit pathetic that you have to practise in secret to beat your wife at golf.
KARL: Well, that's marriage for you. One pathetic deception after another. *putts again*

Rachel and Didge emerge from the bedrooms, Rachel reading a critical piece that she's written about a book. Didge is really impressed, and Rachel returns the compliment - she was really impressed with Bridget's footie skills the other day. Looks like these two are now Bestest Friends, taking after their mothers. It's almost like we're being set up for a fall.

RACHEL: You're like a modern day feminist crusader.
RINGO: Er, could you two please use big words somewhere else? You'll put the K-man off his game.

Karl misses another shot. Golf balls everywhere.

RINGO: You are consistent. I'll have to give you that.

Rachel and Didge bond some more, then we hear Susan coming up the path. 'Hide the balls!!!!' yells Karl, and he and the kids fly to the floor to try and gather them up, but Ninja Suse is onto them.

SUSAN: Evening all!

The kids and Karl looks up from the floor.

KARL: Hello!!!
KIDS: Hi!!!!
SUSAN: (with a sing-song voice) Watcha doin'?
KARL: Oh, I was just looking for something. Never mind, kids, I'm sure it'll show up. Karl pretends to drink from the cup that was on the floor.
SUSAN: You've been practising behind my back, haven't you?
KARL: Oh - don't be silly!

Susan reaches into the cup that Karl just 'sipped' from, and removes a ball or two.

SUSAN: No point trying to hide your balls, Karl.
KARL: I can always practice the guitar...
ALL: No no no no no no!
KARL: That's what I thought.

Karl skulks into the bedroom.

Number 26
Janae tells Ned that she's so worried about him and Mickey. She wants Mickey with them where he belongs. Ned tells her that he needs her - they're a team, but Janae has to control her temper.

Steve comes in with a policeman who tells her that Kirsten has made a complaint about Janae's behaviour. It seems like an isolated incident, but they will have to keep an eye on things - they'll have to act if they get any more complaints. Mickey comes out of his room:

MICKEY: What did you do to my mum?

Cut to later and Janae apologises to Mickey, who is very defensive about his mother - he hates Janae. Ned tells Mickey to stop being rude, but Mickey hates Ned too, and runs to his room.

Kennedys
Steve and Karl are talking about home grown organic veggies. Suse and Randa are chopping things in the kitchen.

KARL: Oooh! Very fancy knife work!
SUSAN: (as if Karl didn't realise) If you do it like this it brings out the flavour more.
KARL: (knowing full well that came from Miranda) Is that so?!

Karl seems amused by his wife's devotion to her new best friend; I'm just thrilled by it. Susan and Miranda talk about Ned and Janae's encounter with Kirsten, and how Mickey has now found out. Miranda is cutting stuff for Bridget's match footie match tomorrow - but the energy with which she's cutting and stirring things suggests she's less than relaxed about it...

Cut to the lounge area where Rachel, Zeke, Ringo and Didge are talking about Bridget's impending footie match - they're looking forward to supporting her. Rachel suggests that it must be great being in a team of loads of hot boys! Didge blushes and gets very defensive - she's not interested in anyone, she's just one of the boys when she's playing. End of. Rachel doesn't believe her.

Number 26
Ned goes into Mickey's bedroom to see his son. Mickey tells him that he won't apologise to Janae. Ned understands that Mickey is confused, but sometimes when we're hurt and angry we do things we don't really mean. He reminds Mickey of the time he hit that boy at school because he was angry. And that's what happened with Janae and Kirsten. Mickey doesn't respond except to say he's going to sleep. How rude.

The Law Office
It's late at night and Toadie and Diana are working. Ned barges in, asking Toadie to postpone the meeting, explaining that Mickey had a blow up with them and hates them. Ned insists they're not up to it.

Erinsborough Hospital
Pepper and Adam are in the waiting room, ready for Pepper's operation. Dr Olenski calls Pep through, and Adam kisses her first.

The Law Office
Toadie and Diana are explaining to Tim that Mickey has a tummy bug and can't make the meeting. Tim thinks that the lawyers are just afraid of not being able to beat him. Tim refuses to postpone the meeting.

TIM: Be interesting to see what they make of a deadbeat dad and his violent girlfriend.

Toadie agrees to the meeting. Tim hope Janae doesn't slash the furniture.

The Footie Ground
The footie coach is allocating roles at the match. Steve and Karl are being manly, and shouting supportive things to their kids. Miranda is being motherly and setting out half time snacks and drinks with Rachel and Ringo. She's prepared a banquet. The match starts, and it's all too energetic for me. Miranda looks worried from the sidelines, until Steve tells her that Didge is playing against Zeke, at which point she realises that it's all fine and wanders off back to her table of delights. Karl looks rather insulted at the slight on his son.

Didge and Zeke playfully shove each other on the pitch. The dads watch.

STEVE: She's a Parker. Don't expect her to go easy on him.
KARL: That's what I'm worried about.

Erinsborough Hospital
The operation went smoothly, and Pepper can go home. There are no side effects to this, and Pepper should still be able to have children. They removed some more pre-cancerous cells, so Pepper will just need regular check ups to make sure everything's fine.

Oh - and she can't have sex for four weeks.

PEPPER: Four WEEKS?!
ADAM: It'll fly by.
PEPPER: Doesn't this bother you?

Pepper looks more distraught at this news than the fact that she had pre-cancerous cells.

The Footie Ground
The match goes on - Miranda looks concerned when Didge gets a stitch. She then runs into a much stronger boy and falls to the ground. She's okay, but Miranda runs onto the ground all hysterical and motherly which infuriates her daughter. She tells her mother to go away, but Randa has a go at the kid who knocked Bridget down.

Number 26
Ned and Janae are in the kitchen, and Mickey is refusing to come out of his room. Drag him out! Janae thinks she shouldn't go today - she doesn't want to ruin Ned's chances. Ned thinks the psychologist will recognise this for what it is - a confused kid who's angry at those who love him.

Mickey wanders into the kitchen with Jake - hunger obviously got the better of him. Ned offers his son some cereal. Mickey wants toast - and no-one even made him say 'please'. *Someone* teach the kid some manners. Janae tries to talk to Mickey, asking him if he'd like some vegemite. Mickey refuses to answer. Janae tells him about the meeting today, and once he's been reassured that Janae won't hit his mother, he seems to be alright and agrees to have vegemite.

And he says please, this time.

Good boy.

Erinsborough Hospital
Otherwise known as The Front Of The Studio.

Ned, Janae and Mickey arrive for the assessment. Kirsten is also there, and Mickey runs to her.