Recap
- Karl telling the kids it was Susan who hit Bridget.
- Steve and Miranda arguing.
- Laura "smashing" a vase over Paul's head to allow them to escape.
No. 22
Paul arrives home and tells Ollie and Rebecca that Declan has been taken by Nick and Laura after he was knocked out. He tells them to call the police but Ollie reminds them what Nick said, so he looks to Rebecca to back him up but she is unimpressed at someone Paul brought into their lives kidnapping her son.
Bush
Nick pulls up at a caravan in the middle of nowhere and despite Declan shouting for help, they all enter the caravan. Declan's legs are tied up to allow Nick and Laura to get supplies despite Laura wanting to stay behind.
Hospital
The Parkers continue their vigil watching over Didge and Steve thinks she has a bit more colour in her. The doc remarks that they'd have expected to have seen some signs by now and when Miranda prompts her, tells then that the longer she is unconscious the risk of sustaining brain damage is increased if and when she wakes up. Steve thinks it is standard rhetoric, which the doc agrees with, before telling her that Didge will wake up and that she will be okay.
No. 28
Susan tries to get back into the swing of things by cooking a new recipe for their supper. Her upbeat mood doesn't last long though when she has trouble spotting a jar of olives that are staring her straight in the face until Karl comes to her rescue.
Bush
Laura and Nick have returned and Declan asks about Paul, if he will be okay given what happened. Nick assures him that Paul will be fine and that he deserved the bash on the head. Laura has more of a conscious though, well for a second until she asks when he is going to make the ransom demand. "Soon," replies Nick.
Hospital
Miranda tearfully prays about how she and Riley came into their lives and that she'll do anything to have Didge live.
No. 28
The kids chat to each other about what is going on. Zeke is frustrated that Susan is trying to protect them and wishes that there is something they could do to help her feel better. Rachel suggests a group hug, which Zeke totally rejects before remarking that the only thing that can help is going back in time.
RACHEL: Sorry Zeke, going back in time is the only way I can think of help Susan right now.
ZEKE: Yes, practical.
RACHEL: What do you want me to do? My friend is in hospital; my step-mum put her there. There's nothing that we can do that comes even close to fixing any of this.
ZEKE: (pondering) What is this going to do to us?
RACHEL: We're fine.
ZEKE: No. I mean *us*, our family.
RACHEL: (after a pause) I don't know.
Hospital
Miranda has had enough of hearing rap music from Didge's iPod and looks through the song list for something more soothing when Steve comes back with some food for them all. The Parkers talk about the dress Didge was wearing when they adopted the kids and how she hated it, reminiscing. Talk then gets onto Didge's future with Miranda trying to be realistic with what the doctor said but Steve is having none of it, Didge is going to wake up and everything will be fine. Riley decides its time for some air and Miranda pushes him that they have to consider it.
Hospital (later on)
Elle is back from her conference and has come straight to the hospital to see Riley - he called for her to come. Riley asks that she apologise to Declan on his behalf for the hard time he gave, which she agrees to. Elle offers to run him home to shower and change but Riley is staying even if he feels useless.
No. 22
Adam is in police mode and tells them what the police will do to help find Declan (getting a trace on Declan's phone, putting out descriptions and having a car outside all night) before he leaves. Rebecca thinks more should be being done despite Paul saying all that everything is being done. The three of them start bickering over what should/shouldn't be done to get Declan back until Ollie snaps and tells Paul it will be on his head if anything happens to Declan. "Fine," shouts Paul back at him.
Bush
Laura tries to feed Declan but he isn't hungry and offers her his hoodie when she begins to feel the cold. Declan wants them to call home, before Nick comes back and Laura relents after he promises only to let them know he is fine and won't say anything to give their position away. Just as she starts to call, Nick returns and isn't amused and "orders" her outside. Declan decides to take advantage of being alone in the caravan by using the knife Laura was using to cut up the sausage to try and cut through the ropes that binds his hands.
No. 28 (next day)
Karl is surprised to see Susan ironing her clothes for going to work and she assures him that she is okay to go back to work and that sitting around at home isn't going do help her but she agrees to his request of regular phonecalls through the day.
Zeke gets up too and is surprised to hear Susan is going back to work and both kids agree to Karl's request to keep an eye on Susan.
Hospital
Riley and Elle are back with some of Didge's things and have somehow managed to smuggle Patch the Joey into the hospital. Riley takes her hand and touches Patch and encourages her to wake up before getting despondent when it doesn't
RILEY: What are we going to do mum?
Bush
Declan is sound asleep while Nick and Laura have a talk what happens next. Nick says he will make the ransom call later that morning and with the money they will get that afternoon, they can go down the coast and start a fishing charter business, like they once dreamed of. Laura is fearful that something will go wrong and that they will lose each other but Nick reassures her he isn't going anywhere and tells her to stop worrying so they can live the life she dreamt of.
Laura asks if Declan really is asleep and Nick replies that he is out for the count, so she suggests that they leave the van and go for a walk. But yes you've guessed it, Declan isn't asleep and as soon as the door is closed, he resumes trying to cut the rope.
School
Susan tries saying hello to the pupils but is most definitely getting the cold shoulder as she walks along the corridor with Rachel and Zeke. As the buzzer is ringing, she tells the kids to get their stuff and head into the classroom which she is about to do also before Pepper calls on her.
Pepper tells Susan that they didn't think she was coming back to work and Susan spots a random guy heading into the class, thinking it is a supply teacher. She replies that it is actually a counsellor the Education Department have sent in to talk to the kids about Didge's accident and Susan spares Pepper's blushes when she agrees not to go into the classroom without formally being asked. Susan tells the kids to enter the classroom and she'll head to the staffroom to do some marking. And as if to reinforce it that Susan isn't welcome in the classroom, Pepper closes the door in front of her.
Bush
Declan has freed himself from his shackles but the van is locked up and so can't get out. He tries kicking a window out but Nick and Laura return just at that moment and Nick restrains him, threatening him not to try anything at the same time.
No. 22
Nick and a colleague set up their equipment to trace any call that is made while in the kitchen, Elle gloats to her dad that she warned him about Nick and Laura.
PAUL: Typical of me going off on one of my crusades without caring how it affects anyone.
Elle's reply is for Paul to get over himself because he's to stay strong for Rebecca. As father and daughter banter with each other, the phone rings and Adam gives Ollie the go-ahead to answer it.
Bush/No. 22
One guess as to who the caller is - yes, Nick and after reassuring him that Declan is fine gives instructions on where and when to drop the money off at. Rebecca jumps in (its on loudspeaker) and asks for proof that Declan is safe and well by wanting to talk to him and in the van, Nick warns Declan not to say anything stupid before placing the phone to his ear.
Rebecca is relived to hear Declan's voice and she reassures him that everything is going to be fine while Declan tells them to do what Nick says.
NICK: (taking the phone back) Frances River turn-off, 1.30. Don't be late.
Hospital
Miranda apologises to Steve for what she said the previous evening while he explains that until the worst happens, he is desperately trying to believe [she will get better].
Just then, Riley rushes out of Didge's room asking for a medic and while someone rushes into her room, Steve and Miranda join him at the window asking what happened.
RILEY: She went all stiff, and she was shaking and all the alarms went off.
MIRANDA: Oh god.
RILEY: It's a seizure or something.