5, 4 ,3, 2, 1.

4...

Glass smashes to the floor. There's a wrist wearing a watch. A fist sporting a signet ring. There's more glass and then a face. Paul's face, blood dripping from his nose. The camera pans out to show Paul, sprawled on the ground surrounded by glass and flashing fairy lights. Lucky he's fallen in the recovery position isn't it? They should never have built that Mezzanine.

Sixteen hours earlier....

Ramsay Street
Declan pulls the paper from the mailbox and reads the headline "Dirty Diana: Dodgy Businesswoman Sent Packing". Catchy. Dec is nearly run over by Paul reversing out of the driveway.

PAUL: Sorry, didn't see you there. You need to be more careful in future...

Harold's
Donna is having trouble facing breakfast. Prue tops up their orange juices with Champagne. (Surely Harold's doesn't have a liquor license.) Ringo gets a call from his dad and Donna and Prue exchange awkward looks. Ringo wanders off to chat and Donna tells Prue that she doesn't feel comfortable keeping this from him. She can't get married with it hanging over her head. Prue will tell him, but she doesn't want to spoil the day. Ringo comes back and passes the phone over to his mum.

Number 22
Paul's back home and wants to know what Declan thinks of the front page story. Declan isn't named in the piece, but if he was ever unlucky he could make headlines too. Paul's been to the DVD store and has "The Godfather", "Wall Street" and an old favourite "Declan's Greatest Hits" in which Declan is placed at the scene of the building site crime. Ah yes, a real "don't it make you feel good" film. Declan is in stupid mode - he watched Paul cut the disc up. Of course, Paul has the original footage so he can get as many copies as he wants.

Number 28
Karl and Zeke go to pick up the dry cleaning. Ringo wants to know what's up with Donna. She explains that she's not supposed to say anything but she can't keep it from him. Ringo tells her that if she loves him and still wants to marry him anything else can wait until tomorrow. She tells him that this can't and explains the reason why his dad is in Italy with Frazer and Rosie - he and his mum have split up. Ringo wants to know why Prue would tell Donna and not him. Donna explains that she found Prue and Nick together in the hotel room. Ew. Ringo clearly feels the same. Angry he leaves to see his mother alone.

The Lassiters Hotel Room - today room 128
Ringo bangs on the door (a bit too hard because it wobbles slightly). When Prue lets him in he rages that it was bad enough that she kept it from him but it was worse asking Donna to keep it secret. Prue tells him that she and his father agreed to see other people a while ago. Ringo presses to know when. It turns out it was while Ringo was in the middle of his VCE, they didn't want to distract him from it.

RINGO: That was like nine months ago! Do the others know?

Prue explains that the reason his dad is in Italy it to tell Frazer and that it was her fault for putting it off. Ringo wonders if there's a chance they'll get back together but there isn't.

RINGO: Why Nick?
PRUE: Bad choice, huh?
RINGO: Bad choice, bad timing, bad everything. So what happened with you and dad?
PRUE: I guess we just grew apart. But we are so different to you and Donna. You're both such strong individuals but feel so good as a team at the same time. I guess I'm a bit jealous of that.
RINGO: I can't really say I'm that jealous of you and Nick. Is that ok?

Prue hugs her son, who sheds a tear.

Number 24
Kate and Sophie are doing a stressed out Donna's hair. She doesn't know why she opened her big mouth, where Ringo is or if he'll come back. Declan drops by to pick up the flowers and gets a frosty reception from Kate. Donna asks if he's seen Ringo, but he hasn't.

SOPHIE: He's gone AWOL.
KATE: He's not missing, Sophie, he's just thinking about stuff.
DECLAN: I'll give him a call.
KATE: Oh yeah, good one. Wish we'd thought of that...

Just then Ringo comes in. Donna launches herself on him and apologises for blabbing and being dumb and insensitive. Ringo actually wanted to thank Donna for being honest with him even when she knew it hurt him. He thinks it shows real respect and courage and it's why he loves her. They kiss.

DONNA: Don't touch my hair!

Kate glowers at Declan, and drags Donna back to finish making her up. Declan asks for a word with Ringo. Sophie looks puzzled.

Number 28
Karl and Zeke puzzle over why it costs $30 to clean a clean suit. Declan must have told Ringo that he and Kate split up because the groom is reassuring his best man that he and Kate will be fine. He and Donna broke up about a million times and now they're getting married. Declan breaks the news to Zeke and Karl and says he doesn't think they'll be having a happy ending.

KARL: Not with that attitude! You've got to fight for her.
DECLAN: It's not that simple. I did something stupid.
RINGO: How stupid?
DECLAN: Hooked up with another girl at the bucks party.
KARL: That's my cue to leave...

Ringo and Zeke can't believe that Declan hooked up with Candice. Ringo asks if Declan hired the dancers to get back at Kate. Dec tells him that Zeke booked the dancers.

ZEKE: Yeah, I did the bucks party for you because you were too busy remember?
RINGO: Too busy to organise your best mate's bucks party? Good on you.
DECLAN: Look, mate, I've had a lot of serious stuff going on.
RINGO: And I haven't? Oh no, I get it big guy. You're just too important for the rest of us now.
DECLAN: So that's what you think, do you?
RINGO: What else am I supposed to think?
DECLAN: Well you've obviously already made up your mind.
RINGO: Well it looks like it doesn't it?
DECLAN: Right. Find yourself another best man.
RINGO: FINE!

Declan storms out leaving the rings with Zeke.

25th Anniversary Insert - 2003 Michelle and Connor

Harold's
Lucas, Natasha and Michael are talking about getting ready for the wedding when MoodyDeclan™ comes in and announces that he is no longer best man. Lucas wants to know why. Declan says he doesn't care, he has too much to do at the office.

LUCAS: Who needs friends when you have an empire to run? Sound familiar?

Number 28
Ringo knows that Donna is going to freak when she finds out he's sacked Declan as best man. Karl asks Ringo if he's nervous, but he's just more down than nervous. Everything has changed so fast, his mum and dad, Dec and Kate. He loves the way things are for him and Donna and he doesn't want it to change.

KARL: It will.
RINGO: But I don't want it to.
KARL: Change is part of things and it's ok because you'll be doing it together. You and Donna will build the marriage that's right for you. It won't be like anyone else's it will be unique to you.
RINGO: You reckon we can do that?
KARL: Well, you're studying for a job you really want to do. You're marrying a smart, beautiful woman and none of that is by accident. You worked hard to make it happen, you didn't let anything get in your way. I'm proud of you.

Ringo is touched, it means a lot to him. He asks Karl to be his best man. Karl would be honoured. Ringo hands over the rings and they hug. Aw, what a nice scene. We don't get enough of these Kennedy parents/teen chats. Nice too to hear that Karl has learned to embrace change in marriage, rather than be fearful of it a la 2003/4.

Number 24
It's photo time for Donna and Kate, but Sophie and Lou just keep harping on about Declan. Kate asks them to drop it because the reason she didn't want to tell people about the break up was she didn't want it to overshadow the wedding.

Nick and Zeke arrive bearing bad news. There's been a flood at the wedding venue and the place is an inch deep in water. They'll try and find somewhere else. Donna reminds herself that the important thing is that she's marrying Ringo and she'll do it in a car park if she has to. Nick suggests his bar, Donna thanks him and says that'd be good. Kate and Zeke are adamant that she can't get married in a bar, there must be somewhere else. Donna is about to suggest they ask Declan if he can arrange something at Lassiters but stops herself. Kate thinks they should ask him though. Zeke isn't so sure as he's no longer the best man.

Paul's Office, Lassiters
Paul is on the telephone and makes it clear to whoever he's speaking to that he doesn't want Rebecca troubled by whatever it is they're talking about. Declan comes into the office, surprised to see Paul there. Paul is glad to see him as he needs a lackey to run some errands for him. Before Declan can start another fight, Donna and Ringo arrive to ask a big favour. Donna explains about the flood and asks if they can have the wedding there. Paul says it won't be a problem, he'll get the events manager to set up a space.

DONNA: Are you back at work?
PAUL: God no, but I still own the place! And besides, you are like a daughter to me and I want everything to be perfect for your wedding day. You just leave it to me.

He leaves to get organising. Declan knows it's not really want they wanted, but Ringo says it's fine. He had something a bit more romantic in mind, but it'll be great. It'll be fine. Declan says he can find them something more romantic. He'll sort it.

Lassiters Car Park
Karl, Zeke and Ringo have more flowers and load them into a van. Declan hands an address over to Zeke and explains that they're off to a beautiful church in the bush surrounded by hills. A Lassiters client owed him a favour and put him onto it. Ringo is really grateful and asks Declan to get himself a suit and get to the wedding.

Paul isn't pleased to find that Declan changed the venue. Declan tells him he's just doing it for Ringo and Donna.

PAUL: Oh really? Anything that involves me you talk to me first. That's anything. You got that?

Oo, pistols at dawn.

Paul walks away and Declan struggles to contain his anger. Finally it boils over and he lashes out, sending plates and glasses flying off a table and cutting his hand and freaking out some passers- by in the process. He wraps his hand in a napkin as he tries to regain his cool.

Number 24
Out on the veranda, Prue checks to see nobody is around to see the bride. Kate follows her out in the most hideous wedding outfit possible. Yellow dress with black tights and yellow shoes and a fluffy pink cardigan. WHY?! Donna emerges in her pink princess dress and is told she looks beautiful. It's time for a presentation. Kate passes gifts to Donna while Prue explains their significance.

A childhood hairpin (something old) to represent continuity with the past. (Hear that Neighbours writers?)
A pair of earrings (something new) representing optimism for the future. (25 years young?)
A dab of perfume (something borrowed) reminding her to rely on family and friends (When good Neighbours...)
And the garter Donna flung at Prue's head (something blue) to surprise Ringo with. Incidentally, although Prue omits this, the something blue is to represent purity, fidelity and loyalty.

Photo time!

Ramsay Street
Everything is sorted and a car is waiting to take Kate and Sophie to the wedding. Kate reminds Nick that they'll need to do a few laps around the block to let everyone have time to find the new venue. She and Donna have a last minute squeal about the fact that Donna is getting married before leaving. Nick thinks Donna looks really happy, and she is. Until they realise that there's no car to take them to the wedding. Nick speaks to the driver but the car has broken down. They can't get a taxi for another hour. Just then they notice Lucas backing out of the driveway in his ute. They ask him for a ride but when Donna sees the inside of the cab, she starts to have her doubts - there's grease everywhere. Lucas asks how good her balance is....

Wedding Venue
Ringo is getting antsy wondering where Donna is. Karl tells him she's supposed to be late.

A road somewhere
Donna stands in the back of the ute holding on for her life and her veil, which eventually blows off. Unfortunately they pass a police car which puts it's siren on and gives chase. Lucas has no choice but to pull in.

Wedding Venue
A car pulls up, but it's just Kate and Sophie. They say that Donna is just behind.

The road somewhere
Lucas and Nick try to explain the situation to the police officer, but the officer is having none of it. They're not going anywhere.

Preview
- Will they get to the church on time?
- Weddings are a great place to meet singles.
- Lucas knows what Libby is doing.
- Libby is the hottest single at the wedding.
- Libby and Lucas get it ooooonnn.
- Paul and Andrew are at loggerheads.
- Andrew wishes Paul was dead.