Recap
Donna writing to the two men, one of whom may be her father.
Susan dressed up in a sexy leather outfit (and she so shouldn't wear orange- reds with her skin tone), and falling over.
Karl ice- packing Susan's sprained wrist.
Donna telling Declan that Kate worries she's not hot enough for him.
Donna telling Kate to embrace her inner hottie.
Declan seeing Kate in a silk nightie.
Kate taking Declan off to bed.
Number 24
It's still night, and Declan is making he and Kate hot chocolate. Kate wonders if she looks any different, which is Neighbours code for 'they just did it'. Donna's at the door, calling for Kate, but she and Declan decide to leave it and just spend the night together.
Number 22
Over at the Robinson house Donna is back from her unsuccessful trip to the Ramsay's house. Lucas is on the sofa, wondering if Donna's okay; she says she's going to lie down, but then spots the post. There's a letter from Leigh Nixon, and Donna confesses that she thinks she may have found her father.
Cut to moments later and they are sitting at the table, and Donna's refusing to open the letter: she's a failure at everything she's ever done, and every relationship she's ever had. She doesn't want to bother stuffing this up, too. Lucas tells her that self- pity isn't a good look.
Number 24
Over at the Ramsays Kate comes out the bedroom to answer the door to Lucas who is knocking very loudly. He says he's come to fix a leaky tap that Kate knows nothing about. He wonders how she is, has she had a row with anyone recently? Oh, subtle. Declan comes out the bedroom, and Lucas realises that he's interrupted something. He says there's a Donna emergency - at which Kate, of course, runs off to help. Declan's gutted.
Number 22
Back at number 22 Lucas returns with Kate who looks like she's in her PJs. Lucas leaves them to it, and Kate tells Donna the only reason she didn't answer the door was because she wanted some 'alone time' with Declan. Which is Neighbours code for 'they just did it'. Donna can't believe it - alone time, as in, they're together? Which is Neighbours code for 'did you just do it?'
Kate confirms. Donna's thrilled and hugs her. But Kate moves onto the serious topic of the letter, and wonders why she hasn't opened it. Donna admits that if she never opens it, then she'll always have the dream. She doesn't want to make a decision yet - she'll sleep on it. Kate says she'll come over tomorrow and see what she's decided.
Number 28
Playing vigorous table tennis on the Wii, with Toadie, Karl tells his wife that she shouldn't be chopping the veggies with her sprained hand. She gives up, and Zeke offers to help, seeing as Karl is making no effort at all. Susan complains that she can't do yoga or golf now, not with her hand like this, and needs some mental stimulation. Karl suggests an adult education course, but Susan mocks the idea of floral arranging or cooking.
TOADIE: It doesn't have to be that, you could do something at uni.
ZEKE: ...
KARL: Sure, sure, you could do a couple of subjects.
ZEKE: ...
SUSAN: I suppose I could do something in journalism...beef my skills up a bit, and the campus is a great place to walk...
TOADIE: Mental and physical stimulation, perfect!
ZEKE: So you'd be going to uni - with me.
Susan says she probably won't see him, and as it's mid- semester, she probably won't get into anything, anyway. But she'll dig the number out and call them first thing in the morning. Karl and Toadie get back to their Wii- ing.
Zeke massacres the vegetables with a large knife.
Cut to the next morning where Susan is on the phone, and it sounds like there's nothing in journalism at all. Toadie whispers to Zeke that he has nothing to worry about. Zeke looks relieved. Susan enquires about general media courses. Zeke glances up, a WTF? look on his face. He tells his dad and Toadie that if Susan gets in he'll hold them both responsible: uni is his space, his own independent reality. He doesn't want it invaded.
On the phone, Susan hears there's a space available. On putting down the phone she tells her family that there's a spot in 'Ethics and the Media' and she'll go in that afternoon to enrol. Zeke tells his mum he's fine with it all, but as soon as she leaves - with Toadie driving her so he doesn't have to face Zeke - he lets rip.
ZEKE: This is actually going to kill me.
KARL: Now, that is a complete over- reaction.
ZEKE: I am going to university with my step- mum!
KARL: Well I can't cancel her enrolment.
ZEKE: No, but I can cancel mine.
Zeke says he only enrolled because Karl wanted him to, and he only stayed because it was fun. With Susan on his back, it's going to be hell.
Number 22
Zeke comes over to join Donna, Declan, Kate, some cupcakes, coffee - and the letter. They make her open it - and he wants to meet her. He'd like to get together, and she should just pick a time and place, on her own turf. There's a mobile number, so she texts him to meet her at Harold's Store, 10am. She worries that he might be like her fake brother, James.
Lassiter's
Leigh Nixon sits at a table, waiting for Donna. Declan recognises him, as he used to be a footballer. She walks over to him, but chickens out before he sees her, walking in the opposite direction. Her friends race after her, and Leigh gets up, asking Kate if she's Donna - he's expecting someone. Kate says no, and walks away.
They encourage Donna to go back to him, but she can't handle another James thing, and leaves. The kids watch as Leigh Nixon gets up from the table and goes.
Charlie's
Kate wants to pursue Donna on this one - Donna's done so much for her, she wants to return the favour.
Over at another table, Karl is telling Susie how he's heard the Ethics in Media course at the uni is really lightweight - she won't enjoy it. However, Karl's made some enquiries and understands that the TAFE course is much better, and he got her some materials. However, Toadie appears and tells her that he just found out the uni course is taken by one of his old lecturers, and it's the toughest course going. He humiliates everyone in class.
SUSAN: Right. So he'd make it quite challenging. You wouldn't expect it to be lightweight.
TOADIE: It'd be a nightmare.
Karl's head falls.
TOADIE: However, I did find out what the TAFE is offering.
SUSAN: What a coincidence.
She produces the pack Karl just gave her. Susan realises she's being conned - and that this is all about Zeke. Karl and Toadie can't get their stories straight, so Karl tells her that Zeke does have an issue.
SUSAN: If he's got a problem, you should tell him to do his own dirty work.
She thinks.
SUSAN: Actually, don't do that, I'll tell him myself.
Number 28
Zeke's on the phone to Kate when Susan and Karl arrive home. Susan offers to give Zeke a lift to uni, and Karl makes himself scarce. Zeke says he's pleased that Susan's studying, but he doesn't want her to do it at his uni. It's not about cramping his style - but he doesn't want to be the kid whose mum goes there, too. Susan tells her son how excited she is, and she promises to keep a low profile.
Erinsborough Uni
Zeke and Alicia are walking to Café area, complaining about the mature 50- year old students who always ask questions at the end of class and keep it dragging on when everyone wants to leave. As he discusses music with Alicia, Susan walks in, and tries to attract his attention from across the Café . Zeke spies her and, annoyed, says to Alicia that he'll go and get them some water. He walks over to his mum.
ZEKE: What are you doing here, your building's on the other side of the campus!
SUSAN: I'm lost, this map doesn't make any sense at all.
Relenting, Zeke smiles, and tells her how to get to her building. Susan sees Alicia, and thinks she seems like a nice girl. She gushes for a bit before Zeke reminds her to leave him alone. Susan goes, smiling proudly at Zeke and his new girl friend. As Zeke gets the water, Susan stops and takes another nosy look at Alicia.
Cut to later, and Susan's sitting in the Café, alone, reading some material. Zeke and Alicia come in. Alicia walks away to get a drink, leaving Zeke at a table, with his laptop and a cappuccino. Susan sees him but, remembering her promise to keep away, she carries on reading.
Zeke sips his coffee - and gets froth on his nose. He doesn't realise, but Susan spots it, and waves to get his attention. With Alicia on one side of her, and Zeke on the other she can't call out, so gets out her phone. Zeke's phone rings, and Susan watches as he looks at her calling and rejects her call. Still wanting to spare her son the embarrassment, she rushes over and tries to get him to listen, but he's not interested, he wants her to leave.
SUSAN: Oh Zeke, wipe your nose!
ZEKE: What?!
Susan whips out a tissue and wipes his nose for him - with Alicia directly behind her. Susan nervously laughs.
SUSAN: There was, um, foam. On his nose.
ZEKE: Um, er, um...Alicia this is...er...my step- mum. Susan.
SUSAN: Sorry. Leave you to it.
She goes back to her table, and Zeke is more mortified when Alicia thinks it's sweet that his mum watches out for him.
Lassiter's
Donna is still pondering over the whole Leigh Nixon thing, and wants Kate to distract her. Kate tells her that Jumila just upped and left to go work in an orphanage; what an opportunity. Donna thinks opportunities are great - if you have a plan to make them work.
She spots the 'Carmen's' pub logo on the letter from Leigh Nixon, and the cog wheels start turning...
Number 28
Karl is reading when Suse and Zeke return home.
KARL: Ah, the study buddies return. How d'you go?
ZEKE: I was completely humiliated.
SUSAN: And how do you think you would have felt if I hadn't wiped your face?!
KARL: You wiped his face?!
ZEKE: Yeah. In front of a girl.
SUSAN: She would've seen you with foam all over your nose!
KARL: Foam?!
ZEKE: (through gritted teeth) From a cappuccino, it was ONE TINY SPOT.
SUSAN: And if I'd ignored it you would have been angry at me for doing nothing.
ZEKE: What were you even doing there, I'd already given you directions back to your building?
SUSAN: And I was heading there once I'd finished my paperwork! How come you were back from your lecture so soon?
ZEKE: We were sick of mature aged students holding us up with their endless questions!!
SUSAN: Well, you don't need to worry about this mature aged student holding you up anymore, you can look after yourself!!
ZEKE: Well...GOOD!
SUSAN: GREAT!!
Karl falls about laughing.
KARL: I'm sorry, it's just that...it's just the image of this CRAZY woman wiping your nose...it...sorry. Too soon. Yeah.
Kate comes in, needing Zeke urgently, and he storms off out past Susan - who doesn't take her angry eyes off of Karl for one second.
Number 22
Donna is looking up the Carmen's pub on the net. Lucas offers her juice as Declan, Kate and Zeke walk in.
DONNA: Is this an intervention?
Her friends all convince her to meet her new dad, but Donna tells them not to worry - she has a plan, and she's not going to tell them what it is. Cut to:
Carmen's
Donna walks in, and is greeted by Leigh Nixon himself. She tells him she's after a job, waitressing: she saw the ad on his website. She has a CV with lots of fashion experience, and convinces him to give her a go. He offers to interview her right now, and she introduces herself as Kelly.