Recap
- Lyn yelling at Karl about Steph
- Lyn telling Susan that Steph wouldn't see her in jail
- Toadie upset because he thinks he failed Steph
- Tash acting jealous when she sees Andrew stare at Summer
- Summer collapsing at the party
- Tash warning Summer to stay away from Andrew
Erinsborough Hospital
Natasha stands guard outside Summer's door until she sees Andrew return with the water jug. She tells Andrew that Summer's asleep and Chris is in the canteen so they should go. Andrew wants to stay and tells Tash she can head home, but luckily for Tash, Lyn and Charlie arrive and Tash says they should probably have family time. Andrew tells Lyn to let Summer know he'll call in the morning but Lyn doesn't appear too impressed with that thought.
Lyn sits with Summer and says she gave her such a fright. Karl arrives to check on his patient but the air between he and Lyn is still frosty. Karl tells Summer that she's looking better but will still have to stay in overnight. Charlie (looking cute in his PJs) hovers by the door and asks "Doctor Karl" if he's seen his mummy. Karl is taken aback and says he hasn't but hopefully Charlie will soon. Lyn brings Charlie on the bed with them and assures him he'll see Steph one day, but they all have to look after one another in the meantime.
Harold's Store - Next Morning
Lou chats with Michael about Summer and Lyn and says it's the last thing the family needs right now. Michael says to Lou that he'll pop in and see Lyn soon. Sonya, Toadie and Lucas are also discussing what happened with Summer but are amazed at the fact that the shed wasn't completely destroyed by rowdy teens. Meanwhile, Natasha and Andrew are ordering breakfast, but Andrew is far more preoccupied with composing a text message to Summer, much to Tash's annoyance.
Erinsborough Hospital
Summer gets the SMS from Andrew but chooses to ignore it. Lyn arrives to collect her and Summer can tell that she's upset about something - probably the fact that Steph refused to see her again this morning. Charlie comes running in (after escaping from Susan in the hall) and asks why his mum doesn't want to talk to him. When Lyn can't answer, he walks off and Summer goes after him, snapping at Lyn on the way out. Susan catches up with Lyn just as she bursts into tears. Lyn says the kids need Steph and she does too - they're falling apart without her.
Harold's Store
Lucas and Lou are talking about putting up Christmas decorations for some much- needed cheer when Lyn arrives to chat with Lucas. She wants to know if he'll go in to see Steph since no one else has had much success.
LUCAS: She asked me not to so I have to respect that.
LYN: What that's it, you've given up?
LUCAS: Look if she won't see you there's no way she'll see me.
LYN: Her family needs her, can't you tell her that?
LOU: There's no harm in trying, mate.
LUCAS: Look things are just really difficult right now.
LYN: What, it's easier to forget her?
LUCAS: (annoyed) I think about her every day so do not try that one on me. She told me to stay away, what else can I do?
They soon realise that arguing isn't going to help anyone and quickly apologise to one another. Lucas says that if he could do anything he would and Lou adds that the justice system is pretty final.
Lassiter's Complex
Sonya's showing Toadie some new mugs she brought with dogs on them when Lyn approaches. She tells Toadie that the family isn't coping - Charlie's even wetting the bed again. Toadie offers to help in any way he can, so Lyn tells him that she wants to appeal Steph's sentence.
Number 30
Toadie has brought Lyn back to his place for a chat (and for some coffee in the new mugs). Toadie tells Lyn that there has to be official grounds for an appeal, like new evidence for example. Lyn thinks that Sam's behaviour during the trial was pretty appalling, but Toadie thinks there's a 500- 1 chance of that sticking in court. He adds that Steph's 6- year sentence was pretty lenient in the grand scheme of things. Culpable driving cases can sometimes be twice that length. Lyn then tries to play the single mother card, but Toadie just says there are plenty of women in prison with children.
TOADIE: You do realise that if you lose this appeal you could increase Steph's sentence?
LYN: Oh... Better not lose it then, ay?
Toadie says that Steph will be up for parole in two years but Lyn can't wait that long. She begs Toadie to do everything he can to bring Steph home.
Today's nostalgia pic is of Joanna and Rob's wedding in 1996.
First Commercial Break
Number 30/Number 26
Sonya asks Toadie if he really wants to put himself through the wringer again, but Toadie can't help agonising over how the #26 crew are falling apart. He can't abandon them.
Lyn bustles in the door, almost waking up Charlie who is taking a nap on the couch with Summer. Summer apologises to Lyn for snapping earlier and says that she shouldn't have gone out last night. But Lyn reminds her that she's young and needs to live her life. She then tells Summer that everything's going to be alright because she's going to bring Steph home.
Toadie tells Sonya that he doesn't want to jeopardise their relationship again and asks for her advice. Sonya knows that Toadie has to decide for himself - but she'll back him all the way.
Summer asks if Steph knows about Lyn's plan, but all Lyn says is that an appeal is the best chance of setting Steph free.
Toadie knows that Steph needs to sign the paperwork if an appeal were to go ahead, but Lyn seems to think she can talk Steph around. Sonya says that no one should be making any decisions then until they get the OK from Steph.
Number 32/Number 26
Michael asks Tash if she wants to sign the 'get well' card for Summer but Tash claims she's too busy doing the chores her dad set her. Michael heads out to deliver the card, passing Andrew on the way out. Andrew tells Tash he has a surprise for her and Tash gets over- excited until she realises he's just had his business cards printed out. She perks up, though, when he shows her he used her design and calls it their "first joint venture".
Later, the two of them are watching TV when Tash starts to go on about them being such a great team and talking about "feelings", dropping the "do you love me?" bomb on him. When Andrew doesn't answer, Tash protects her pride by saying that she was only kidding around with him. Andrew can see right through her but plays along with the 'joke' so she doesn't get more embarrassed.
Cue angsty teen musical montage! Natasha tries not to cry on the couch while Andrew looks around Facebook, flicking between his page and Summer's. Meanwhile, Summer looks at all the 'get well' messages on her wall, noticing that Andrew hasn't written her one. Andrew dithers over whether or not to post on her wall before deciding not to, clicking back to his page where the 'Andrew Robinson is in a relationship with Natasha Williams' status whacks him in the face like a 2x4. Natasha sheds some more tears on the couch.
Number 26
Toadie calls in to see Lyn and Summer to tell them that he finally got through to Steph on the phone - she doesn't want them to appeal the case. Lyn gets in a tizz and says that Steph needs time to think things over. But Toadie reminds Lyn that if she takes away Steph's right to make this decision then she's taking away the last bit of freedom Steph has.
LYN: So you're giving up on us are you?
TOADIE: I'm going to do what Steph wants me to do.
LYN: Looks like we need another lawyer then.
TOADIE: No one else is going to take this on, Lyn.
LYN: We'll see.
Fuming, Toadie leaves but Lyn can't help stopping him and asking how Steph sounded on the phone. Toadie says that she's coping and that she's accepted her fate - maybe Lyn should do the same.
Second Commercial Break
Harold's Store
Karl feels uncomfortable eating a meal in the store with Susan but Lou assures him that Lyn's taken the day off. Karl says he rang Lyn to check on Summer but she hung up on him. The Ks then have a mutual admiration society - Susan praising Karl about working overtime, and Karl praising Susan about looking out for him.
Lucas and Michael bump into Andrew and Natasha and ask if they want to sit together, but the kids aren't onboard with that idea. Andrew tells Tash they should have a serious chat about before, but Tash assures him that she's fine. She admits that sometime in the future she might want to make their relationship more official, but for now she's just having fun hanging out. Tash can't help stealing a wistful glance Karl and Susan's way, though, when they act couply and in love.
Number 26
Summer's listening to Lyn talk to someone on the phone, looking worried when she says they'd be able to cover all costs of the appeal. When Lyn hangs up, Summer asks her why she's going through with it when she knows it's not what Steph wants. But Lyn keeps saying that Steph will eventually come around - all she's doing is setting the wheels in motion.
SUMMER: Toadie said this could make things worse.
LYN: Yeah well Toadie's not the only lawyer in town.
Heh. Tell that to everyone that seems to hire him! This is a nice little segueway, though, into finding out who Lyn did hire for the case. Ladies and gentlemen, everyone's favourite rogue, Tim Collins! He gets things underway by saying that he "heard on the grapevine that Jarrod lost the case" for Steph. Nice to see you haven't changed, Tim.
TIM: As we talked about on the phone this is not going to be a pushover, it's actually going to be quite tough.
LYN: But worth it.
TIM: I wouldn't be here if it wasn't going to be worth it.
SUMMER: Worth it for Steph?
TIM: That's what I said.
Summer reminds them that Steph doesn't want to appeal but Tim says he has Lyn's assurance that Steph's mind will be changed. He gets out some papers for Lyn to sign. She notices a $10,000 fee and asks if that's the full payment, but Tim says they're just upfront costs. He then shows them another bit of paper with what appears to be a ginormous fee on it judging by Lyn and Summer's shocked looks.
LYN: I can't possibly pay that.
TIM: I understand that, but you just have to ask yourself one question: how much is my daughter's freedom worth?
Third Commercial Break
Number 26
Tim takes a call in the lounge room while Lyn and Summer fret over the legal papers in the kitchen. Summer tells her Nan there's no way they can afford this but Lyn gets a determined look on her face and says she'll find the money somehow. When Tim rejoins them, Lyn signs the papers much to Summer's concern.
Preview
(Tomorrow on Neighbours)
TIM: Rebecchi, good to see your practice is keeping you busy, mate.
(Toadie confronts Lyn)
TOADIE: You haven't got a lawyer you've got a parasite.
LYN: At least he's doing something.
TOADIE: He's going to lose this case and Steph is going to get a harsher sentence.
TIM: With what I've just found we were looking at an earlier release.
(Lou introduces Sophie and Lucas to a community event)
SOPHIE: Citizen of the Year?
(Lou hands out fliers to Karl and Susan)
LOU: Vote early, vote often as long as you nominate me.
(Sonya gets a text message - 'Coming to see you' - she looks worried)
SONYA: (on phone) Why are you bothering me? How did you get this number? What do you want, I don't want to see you alright?
(She hides photos that are stuck on the fridge and answers the door to someone)