Recap
- Steph worried about losing Libby's friendship forever
- Paul telling Toadie he'll regret keeping his files
- Steph confessing the truth to Dan & Paul taping them
- Paul realising Toadie was doublecrossing him with Diana
- Paul playing the confessional on air & Libby hearing it
Lassiter's Complex
Libby slowly staggers out of Charlie's, the world around her sluggish and muted. All she can hear is Steph's confession that Dan is the father, ringing in her ears. Lyn runs out of Harold's and sees Libby, her worst fears confirmed. Steph and Toadie chase after Libby, while Paul and Rebecca stand in the background. Steph grabs onto Libby's arms and snaps her out of her trance, but all Libby can say is, "Don't speak to me" before walking away. Lyn sizes up to Paul and gives him a brutal slap across the face, then goes to comfort her daughter. Rebecca can only look at her husband in shame and disgust.
Number 28
Karl is in an absolute rage over Dan while Susan tries to reach Libby on her mobile. When Libby arrives home in a daze they gently guide her to sit down. Susan doesn't understand how Steph could lie not only to Libby, but to Lyn and Toadie as well.
Libby, meanwhile, is having flashbacks to important events over the past seven months, and putting all the puzzle pieces together. She recalls the day Dan left the street, when Steph was talking about her conception date and how she thanked Steph at her hens night for getting her through the whole Dan situation.
LIBBY: (crying) She was my best friend. My best friend.
Number 26
Lyn looks at Steph and Toadie sitting despondently on the couch. Steph calls herself gutless and says she should have told Libby herself earlier like she planned. Toadie chimes in and says he's the stupid one - he thought he could beat Paul at his own game and failed. Lyn tells them both to cut it out and reminds them they're both adults and they both made choices, "Now deal with it". Steph wants to go and see Libby but Lyn says that's the worst possible thing she could do right now.
STEPH: I have to talk to Libby.
LYN: And say what exactly?
STEPH: Sorry seems a pretty good place to start!
LYN: It is but not now. You have to wait.
STEPH: Wait?! For how long? An hour? A day? A week? Time's not going to change anything.
Toadie pipes up and says he'll go over, but Lyn says he won't. They have to think calmly and rationally about all of this - and Toadie needs to find Callum and let him know what's going on before someone else does.
Charlie's Bar
Rebecca calls Paul a "sorry excuse for a human being". She's disgusted by how cruel he's been and the fact that he's ruined the lives of good people, seemingly for nothing. Of course Paul goes into self- defence mode and claims that he had no idea what was on the CD - he thought it was a message from one of their sponsors.
PAUL: Even if I did know do you think I'd play it?
REBECCA: I do. How sad is that.
Rebecca tells Paul that she's not going to collect any of the money they raised for Pirate Net because he's tainted the radio station forever. She wants nothing more to do with it. Paul sighs and walks out. Declan gets off the phone with Lucas, who claims he's doing "fine" but needs some time alone. Dec sees how upset his mum is and asks if she's OK, but Rebecca just says that everything is a mess.
Erinsborough High
Toadie has taken Callum out of his weekend soccer match early to have a chat with him (the school corridor probably isn't the best place for a D&M, Toad, but anyway...). Toadie stammers a bit, trying to find the right words, before taking a deep breath and telling his son the truth.
TOADIE: Steph and I... Our relationship is not real.
CALLUM: What do you mean by not real?
TOADIE: Steph and I are not actually a couple. We are just friends, and Steph's baby... Well, Dan Fitzgerald is the father. We pretended that the baby was mine to try and protect Libby.
CALLUM: Woah...
TOADIE: I'm really sorry, mate.
CALLUM: You told me I was going to have a little brother. You made me want him.
TOADIE: I honestly thought this was the best thing to do.
CALLUM: But it wasn't honest.
TOADIE: I've never stopped loving you, mate. Squid you are my son.
But Callum just stands up and walks off on him.
Number 26
Lyn is playing the 'everything is just fine' card, trying to get Steph to eat or drink something, but all Steph wants to do is see Libby. She storms out of the house with Lyn chasing after her.
Ramsay Street/Number 28
Lyn tries to get Steph to turn around and come home, but Steph is a woman on a mission. Lyn says Libby won't even let her through the front door, but Steph says she'll talk to her outside. Steph starts banging on #28's front door, yelling for Libby, and when she won't answer she darts around the side and bangs on the window. Lyn desperately tries to get her to stop and calm down.
Inside #28, Libby is sitting with Karl, Susan, Zeke and Ringo on the couch, listening to Steph scream out her name. Zeke mutters that Steph can't take a hint, and Karl says that maybe someone should go out, but Libby states that they're staying put.
Rebecca and Donna watch from across the road as Steph keeps screaming. Donna thinks that someone should do something, but Rebecca gently says it's not their argument.
Libby blocks her ears, muffling Steph's fraught cries, but it's Susan who finally snaps and walks out of the house to say something. Libby tells her not to go, but Susan won't listen.
Susan barrels outside and demands Steph to stop it, but Steph ignores her and keeps calling out for Libby. Lyn asks Susan to stay out of it, but Susan snipes that it's hard to ignore someone yelling in the street. Libby finally appears outside.
STEPH: LIBBY!
LIBBY: SHUT UP!
Libby looks completely murderous as she rushes over to Steph, who is apologising profusely, but Libby doesn't want to hear any pathetic excuses.
LIBBY: How long? Were you and Dan together behind my back?
STEPH: No we weren't together, Libby. It was just one night.
LIBBY: You've never wanted me to be happy, have you? You have destroyed every single thing that I have ever cared about.
STEPH: No that is not true.
LIBBY: I can't have babies because of you and your stupid motorbike. You would have taken Drew from me if you had the chance. And now Dan? You picked the one thing you knew would hurt me the most. (starting to cry) You're having his baby, the thing I couldn't do.
STEPH: No, Lib...
LIBBY: And the whole time you were pretending to be my friend.
STEPH: I am!
Susan and Lyn look on, each feeling the hurt their daughters are feeling.
LIBBY: Hugging me, listening to me carrying on about my problems, telling me you loved me...
STEPH: (desperate) I do love you. I do.
LIBBY: You are a cheap tramp and a filthy liar! I wish I'd never known you.
STEPH: No Libby, please!
LIBBY: Don't you ever come near me again!
Steph begs for Libby to stay outside and keep talking, but Libby has had enough and angrily goes back into the house, Susan not far behind. Steph collapses to her knees and buries her head in her hands.
First Commercial Break
Number 26
Lyn supports her shellshocked daughter inside so she can sit on the couch. She cradles Steph in her arms as Toadie silently walks in and sits down on the other couch looking defeated. No one says a word.
Charlie's Bar
Diana leaves a voicemail message for Toadie, disappointed that he was late for their meeting. She soon finds out what went wrong when she eavesdrops on a conversation between Rebecca and Declan, who are discussing the Ramsay Street showdown and Paul's involvement. Diana sidles her way into their chat and says that Paul is a ruthless operator. Rebecca says they don't really need her two cents, it's a private matter. But Diana rightly points out that they were discussing things quite openly, and since the complex is practically deserted now, it concerns her.
DIANA: Maybe he was under some kind of threat.
REBECCA: From Steph or Libby? They're no threat to him.
DIANA: What about Jarrod?
REBECCA: Toadie? What would he have against Toadie?
DIANA: Jarrod was doing some work for me, and you know that Paul and I have had our issues. So that wouldn't make him very popular with Paul, would it? Try and have a nice day.
Diana leaves and Declan frets, saying that it's just Diana's theory, but it looks as though Rebecca has been convinced 100%.
Number 22
Paul steps in the door to see some suitcases packed in the hallway. He looks at Declan like, 'What the hell's going on?', but Declan just calmly calls out for Rebecca to come downstairs.
PAUL: Darling you can't just walk out without giving me a chance to explain.
REBECCA: Paul I'm not walking out on you.
PAUL: What's with all the suitcases?
REBECCA: You're the one leaving. I just packed some things, made it a bit easier for you.
PAUL: Hang on, this is my house!
REBECCA: Ah, no, since we're married, Paul, actually it's our house.
Paul claims his innocence once more, but Rebecca says she already knows about his vendetta against Toadie. Paul glares at Declan, who is standing behind his mum, but he just quietly shakes his head as Rebecca goes on to explain that Diana told her. Rebecca adds that she saw Paul play the recording and he knew exactly what he was doing.
PAUL: (downtrodden) I see... So is this it, is it?
REBECCA: I don't know what I'm going to do, Paul. But until I do, you can stay away from me.
With one last glance at his wife, Paul picks up his suitcases and exits. Declan gives Rebecca, who is trying not to cry, a hug.
Second Commercial Break
Number 28
Karl answers the door to Lyn, who is pleading to see Libby (who is in plain view in the kitchen). But both Karl and Susan tell her that Libby wants to be alone right now. Lyn tries again, saying how worried she is about Steph's health.
LYN: It's the stress on her and the baby.
LIBBY: (frustrated) Maybe she should have thought about that before she slept with my husband.
KARL: Please go.
LIBBY: There's not much to explain really, is there. She's an adult, she made a choice; she knew exactly what she was doing.
LYN: She made a mistake.
LIBBY: Oh what, she thought Dan was someone else?
Susan and Karl manage to convince Lyn to go home. Witnessing her daughter's fragility, Susan holds Libby in her arms as she breaks down and sobs her heart out.
Lassiter's Hotel Rooftop
Paul is looking out over Lassiter's, a drink in his hand, when Diana finds him for a chat. The banter is normal between them - conversation threaded with thinly veiled insults - until Paul shows Diana the folder he stole from Toadie. Diana freezes.
PAUL: I got it off a dodgy lawyer in the park. It's fascinating reading, you would have loved it.
DIANA: Maybe you should lend it to me sometime.
PAUL: Oh, I don't think so. You know what your biggest mistake was, Diana? Underestimating me. I don't like being attacked. (He leans in closer to her) I don't like it at all.
DIANA: I'll remember that.
PAUL: Yes, you should. You should also know that I will do whatever I have to do to win.
DIANA: Poor Jarrod had to learn the hard way.
PAUL: Oh, you will too. You see I have every intention of saving my business, and my marriage and crushing you in the process.
Paul looks smug as Diana grits her teeth - this round goes to you, Robinson.
Charlie's Bar
Lyn has convinced Steph, Toadie, Callum and Charlie to go out for dinner, but they feel uncomfortable when half the bar patrons turn and stare at them. Steph mutters that it was a bad idea coming here, but Lyn holds her head high and says they have every right to be in the bar.
They take a seat while Ringo, Donna and Zeke watch them from a couch sitting alongside the back wall. Donna feels sympathetic, noting that it sucks to be stared at. But Zeke points out that if you don't want to be stared at, you don't go behind your best friend's back. To make matters worse, Karl and Libby have arrived to pick up a take away order. Libby turns to leave, but suddenly changes her mind and storms over to Toadie.
LIBBY: How can you bear to even look at her after what she's done? She lied to you as much as she lied to me. I didn't know you were so gutless.
Libby leaves and Toadie looks ashen.
TOADIE: She thinks I didn't know.
Number 28
The Kennedys are finishing up dinner when Toadie drops by. Susan and Karl try and shield Libby from visitors, but Libby wants him to come in. She goes over and wraps her arms around Toadie for a big hug. Toadie hesitates at first, guilty as hell, but gives in and squeezes Libby tight, savouring the last contact they'll probably have.
LIBBY: I'm so sorry I had a go at you like that in Charlie's. We've both been so hurt and we have to stick together through this, you know? After I left Charlie's I realised this has to be even worse for you than for me. Dan and I had separated, but you and Steph had just got married, and you have loved her for such a long time.
She clings on to him again and asks him to stay for a cuppa. Toadie's chin quivers as he tries to hold himself together - how can he say no?
Third Commercial Break
Number 28
Libby is saying how awful this must be for Charlie, but Toadie looks distracted as he psychs himself up to tell Libby the truth. Libby says she's so glad he's here - and that's the trigger...
TOADIE: Steph didn't lie to me. I knew right from the beginning.
Karl and Susan can't believe their ears. Libby can only stare at him in disbelief.
TOADIE: The whole relationship was my idea.
LIBBY: You knew?
TOADIE: Yep. It was the only way I could think of to stop you from getting hurt.
LIBBY: (trying to control her tears) You planned this?
TOADIE: I'm sorry.
KARL: Just get out, Jarrod.
TOADIE: I married Steph to protect you.
LIBBY: No! You did it for Steph.
TOADIE: I did everything for you, because you are my family.
SUSAN: (emotional) You are not part of this family any more.
Upset, Toadie quickly puts a letter on the table that Steph wrote for Libby, and leaves. Libby bursts into fresh tears as Susan and Karl comfort her.
There's a three- way split screen to end the episode - Toadie looking incredibly upset on the #28 doorstep, the Kennedys hugging Libby and Lyn cradling Steph in her arms in #26. Things have been changed forever.
Preview
(Tomorrow on Neighbours)
NATASHA: Don't have a meltdown.
LIBBY: What happens outside of the classroom, stays outside of the classroom.
(Tell that to Lucas, who is smashing up a car part in his class)
(Libby confronts Summer in the school corridor)
LIBBY: Don't you dare justify it by saying you were doing everyone a big favour.
SUMMER: I was just trying to help.
LIBBY: Just shut up!
(Michael witnesses this outburst)
MICHAEL: Go home.
LIBBY: Make me.
(Donna gathers Ringo, Declan and Kate together)
DONNA: I mean one day your life is fine and then bam - everyone you care about has been lying to you. I am inaugurating a truth- fest.
KATE: (angry at Declan) Finally something honest from you.
(Libby is out having drinks with Doug, Michael and Lucas)
LIBBY: This is the man who could have told me about Steph's pregnancy.
DOUG: We'll talk about this later.
LIBBY: Let's talk about it right now.