No 26
Rhys and Erin are chatting after a romantic meal. She wants to go home to study but he wants her to stay, so he can help or ply her with desserts while she works.

She doesn't want to because she's on her last warning at work, but isn't sure what happens after that. Maybe they could kick her off the programme. Rhys tries to insist that having a study buddy would be useful but she's insistent. In fact she thinks they should take a break so she can focus on the programme and her career.

Rhys continues to insist, He knows exactly what it's like and besides would have to drink a really expensive bottle of champagne by himself if she goes. It's even called Erin's Retreat.

He promises her if she stays the night to study he won't distract her (except with the champagne presumably) and she can see how she feels in the morning. They start the bottle and kiss.

(Next morning)

Rhys is cooking breakfast and reading some files when Jade comes in and starts making jokes about the champagne. He complains she's making things sound 'tacky' but is distracted by his burning eggs and Erin's entrance. He tries to insist she has breakfast but she wants to go. 'Another time?' he asks, but she still wants to concentrate on her career and goes.

"Wow, says Jade, "Did you just get dumped - by her?". Rhys looks less than pleased.

The Coffee Shop

Sonya is fiddling with things in her shopping bag while she is on the phone to Toadie. She wants to know if he could pop home some time during the day. It's 'that time again'.

As she leaves we see Tash and Chris sitting at a table. They've obviously overheard this rather personal call, and Tash is using Sonya's example to persuade Chris to ask Aidan for a date. She points out that he's been out with someone before (Summer) but he says Summer asked him. Besides it's harder with guys. Tash thinks it's easier because they can talk about footie, cars and gadgets and he doesn't have to say anyone's hair looks good.

Chris is still unsure - it was hard enough coming out and dating would make it 'real'. Tash warns him it is real and if he doesn't act he'll lose his chance.

Hospital
Tash is urging Chris to take action as Aidan bustles about at the nurse's station. Aidan spots them and shows off his black eye to Chris. His official line is that he got it saving an old lady from being mugged but he might change the story at lunchtime to see if anyone notices.

He gives Chris an opening by asking what he can do for him, but Chris chickens out and says he's here to see Karl, who arrives right on cue. Aidan goes, Chris organises a check up he didn't come for.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Rhys is looking at a computer and Erin arrives, trying to be friendly by joking about being on time for work this morning 'for once'. He doesn't seem to want to know, and despite her trying again to chat, cuts her off. She still wants to be friends, but he isn't interested.

Aidan arrives, and asks who smells of booze. Erin admits it might be her, as she spilt some on her top last night. Aidan offers to get her some scrubs.

Still in the hospital, Karl is sitting at the desk in his office, getting ready to eat his lunch. Rhys enters and asks if he could have a word. What does Karl know about hospital policies - he thinks a colleague might have a problem with alcohol, and he wants Karl's advice. Rhys seems to be worried about his colleague's career, but Karl is more concerned with patient safety. He asks who the colleague is but Rhys won't say. Karl insists and Rhys 'accidentally' lets slip that it's a resident. Karl tries to get a name but Rhys walks out.

Later at the nurse's desk, Karl catches up with Rhys and wants to finish their conversation. Rhys says he's too busy with patients to chat. He walks away, but with a fine sense of timing Aidan comes along and says that Erin was late into surgery because she has to change into scrubs to avoid going to class smelling of drink, and Martin was really angry with her. He warns Rhys to keep out of Martin's way because he's 'ropable'. Karl overhears the whole thing and is obviously putting two and two together in the background.

No 30
Sonya, wearing a silky dressing gown, is setting a romantic mood in the living room. She's drawing the curtains and lighting candles when she hears a key in the door, so she rushes across the room, drapes herself seductively round the doorway and opens her dressing gown, just as Susan walks in.

They both scream, and talk over each another, Sonya trying to say she thought it was Toadie and Susan saying she should have knocked. They both stop at the same time, searching for words; Sonya finally says 'This isn't ... usual for us. We're trying to have a baby.'

Susan offers to take up knitting but Sonya starts to confide in her about how worried she is, that they've been through three cycles and nothing has happened, despite marking down her most fertile days. Susan suggests a trip to the doctor but Sonya confesses Toadies doesn't know how long they've been trying.

Charlie's
Chris and Tash are still discussing his failure to ask Aidan out. Chris feels Aidan blames him for the black eye but Tash thinks he should just get over it and stop blaming Aidan for wussing out. Chris wants to just forget the whole thing, but Aidan arrives at the bar and Tash wants Chris to give it another go.

TASH: What have you got to lose?

CHRIS:(glumly) Self-respect.

She knows it's hard but says he has the guts to do it. Chris approaches Aidan and starts to chat, Aidan says he could have organised the check ups for him. It's a bit awkward but Chris is just about to ask Aidan out when the barman arrives, off duty for what is clearly a coffee date with Aidan. They chat and Chris looks stricken.

Hospital
Karl is talking to Jessica sharing his worries abut Erin's drinking problem. Her personal problems and prior warnings make it even more of an issue. Rhys overhears, and smirks.

Jessica and Erin are in the office and Erin's been told to take a couple of days off. She's really upset. Outside the office, Karl and Rhys overhear, Karl hopes Erin gets the help she needs.

Back in the office, Erin is getting more upset. Jessica tries to calm her but she's having none of it and storms out. Rhys stops her to offer support but she needs to be alone and walks off.

No 30
Susan reassures Sonya she's still flat hunting and will be out of their way soon. Toadie comes home and oh so romantically suggests they 'get the show on the road'. Susan leaves hastily which Toadie thinks is a bit weird, but Sonya confesses what happened earlier.

They start to get romantic, Toadie wants a massage, Sonya says he has to earn it and they disappear into the bedroom. We are treated to a random set of images set to 'Ode to Joy':

Clouds scudding across the sky
Birds in a tree
A bee on a flower
An aeroplane
Fireworks
A train
A fountain
More fireworks
An explosion which looks suspiciously like the one from a previous Neighbours episode
Sun breaking through trees

They come back into the living room; Toadie doesn't really want to go back to work and considers phoning in an excuse. Sonya seems a bit down; she's wondering every time they - you know - whether 'this was it'. Toadie counsels patience and says the trying is fun, but she confesses how long it's really been. Toadie's disappointed that she didn't share this, but she explains that she's been worried after her chat with Rhys. Her age and what she's put her body through are against them. She's getting more and more worried but he reassures her - maybe today was their lucky day.

Hospital
Erin is looking really fed up, Rhys is commiserating. She believes that she's been suspended even though they're calling it leave and complains about the gossip in the hospital. She's so fed up that all this is happening despite her giving up everything for the programme, she's quit. Maybe she'll see Rhys next year.

She leaves and Rhys sees Jessica leaving the office. He looks as if he might be feeling just a little guilty.

An outside shot to indicate the passing of time, then Rhys has obviously got over any regrets. He's chasing Jessica trying to discuss the Erin situation with her. When she won't discuss Erin he says he wants to be considered as her replacement on the programme. Karl is just seeing a patient out and overhears this.

Jessica is taken aback - after all Erin has only been gone for an hour. Rhys is pushing hard, he'll do whatever it takes. He points out that Jessica previously said he couldn't have a place because the programme was full and now it's not. Jessica says she'll be taking it up with Martin and the board.

She walks away, and Rhys and Karl make eye contact.

Karl realises he's been played.

Monday on Neighbours
Karl confronting Rhys about using him to get rid of Erin
Rhys telling Karl he had no choice but get on the programme
Rhys telling Kate her plan backfired
Sonya asking Susan to keep an eye on Callum
Callum and Kyle worried about losing the papers with Kyle's flyers in them
Susan watching suspiciously and warning Callum she'll find out if he's up to anything