Previously on Neighbours
- Lucas tells Vanessa she'll have the wedding of her dreams - but can they really afford it?
- While Walter steals from the Kennedys', Sonya tells Toadie to accept him as part of their lives
Power Road
Uncle Walter emerges from the Bric- a- Brac Shop, stuffing notes into his wallet. Sheila is walking by, and says hello; Walter claims he was looking to purchase a watch, but that the shop is far too expensive. Walter tries to give Sheila some money for buying him breakfast, but she says it was her treat, as a welcome to Erinsborough. In which case, Walter says, he'll just have to pop around with a little something for her.
SHEILA: Well if you do that, you might just have to stay to dinner.
WALTER: Well, that might just suit me to a tee.
No 28
Karl and Susan come in, having returned from Toadie's; she begins to tidy up, as she's minding Patrick later for Vanessa. Karl mentions he's having a jam with Ajay later, but Susan says they'll manage. Susan sees that a few things are out of place on the table that Walter stole the watch from, and accuses Karl of rearranging things.
KARL: I haven't touched anything over there.
SUSAN: Oh really? Just like you didn't leave your razor out this morning?
KARL: I don't recall.
SUSAN: Ah! So they'd be my whiskers in the sink, would they?
KARL: ....
SUSAN: Ooh, don't you dare!
KARL: Okay, I'm not going there. Wouldn't want to upset the wife!
They discuss Walter; Susan thinks that Toadie needs to be a bit more sensitive to the fact that Sonya's so invested in him. Karl defends Toadie, but Susan asks what harm it can do for Sonya to get to know Walter better.
No 30
Toadie apologises about being rude to Walter, but Sonya is not easily forgiving. She reminds him how much she put up with when his mother Angie was staying with them; yet Toadie couldn't be civil to Walter for just a few days. Toadie reiterates that he feels Sonya's investing too much in Walter, but admits he may have been a little jealous of Sonya's attention, which is why he overreacted. Sonya thaws a bit, but says there's no use apologising to her now the damage is done with Walter. Toadie promises to go out of his way to make Walter feel welcome from now on.
Harold's Store
Lucas and Vanessa discuss booking a wedding venue; Vanessa has her sights set on somewhere, and Lucas thinks they should go for it. Vanessa says she'll organise it all; she wants Lucas to focus on his recovery. He's about to head to the garage, and Vanessa asks him to promise he's not going to work - just to check up on Chris and Mason - which he does. Vanessa asks if Lucas is sure they can afford the venue, and he claims he is.
Fitzgerald Motors
Chris explains to a customer, Mr Spencer, that the timing belt he needs changing is something they can't do, since Mason and Chris are both apprentices, and the boss isn't around. At that moment Lucas turns up, however, and says they can do it after all. Chris admits he's had to turn other work away in Lucas's absence that the boys weren't qualified to do, but Lucas tells him to call them back - he'll do the work himself. Lucas sends Mason on a parts/tea run, and tells him that if Vanessa asks, Lucas isn't at the garage. Chris looks worried at this blatant deceit.
Charlie's
Sheila is asking Ajay if The Right Prescription can fill in for a gig, due to a cancellation from one of her other bands. He agrees, but Sheila goes on to moan that it isn't ideal, as people were expecting a metal band! Ajay asks if she could get them a regular slot, but Sheila looks unkeen.
SHEILA: We don't want people to be overdosing on The Right Prescription... In my opinion, a little goes a long way with some bands.
However, Ajay persists, and Sheila says if they shake up their playlist, she might reconsider.
No 30
Walter arrives with a bunch of flowers from Sonya, as an apology for getting in the way at lunch. Toadie insists he wasn't in the way at all; but nonetheless Walter has decided to leave Erinsborough. Toadie starts grovelling to Walter, saying Sonya would be really upset if he left on bad terms, and that he'd be doing Toadie a massive favour if he stuck around for a while longer. He adds that Walter is welcome at the house any time he wants.
Sonya comes in and agrees with Toadie, but Nell starts crying, so she goes out again. Toadie tells Walter to make himself at home, and leaves the room himself - but Walter goes straight over to the desk by the wall and begins rifling through it, stealing some money and finding a key, which he pockets.
Men's Shed
Walter has let himself into the shed, and quickly helps himself to beers from the fridge, stashing them in his bag. He's interrupted by Ajay, however, who's perplexed at first - but then realises he must be Sonya's uncle. Walter explains Toadie doesn't know he's here; he was looking for somewhere to sleep tonight, as he's trying to avoid having to pay the nightly rate at the caravan park. He asks Ajay not to tell Sonya. Ajay looks uncomfortable, and tells Walter the shed doesn't even have a bathroom; but that he's welcome to stay if he wants. Walter thanks him, but says he'll find somewhere else - and Ajay leaves.
Harold's Store
Mason has come in for the tea run. Vanessa thanks him for supporting Lucas during his illness, but then sees Mason has bought three teas, and queries why. She demands to know whether Lucas is working at the garage, but Mason claims the third tea is for a customer.
No 28
Ajay is on the phone to Toadie, relaying the story about having found Walter in the shed. After he's finished, he compliments Karl on the song he's practicing, but suggests changing some of the lyrics. Karl is affronted, but Ajay persists. Susan comes in and hears his alternative.
SUSAN: Ooh, that's good. That's better than what you had, Karl.
Karl and Ajay argue about the song, and Susan decides to leave them to it. Karl asks her if she found her watch, but she says it's still missing, and thinks she's mislaid it somewhere. She tells Karl she's dropping Patrick off at the end of Vanessa's shift, if he wants to meet her then. He agrees.
Karl tries out some more of Ajay's new lyrics, before concluding the vocals with: "Another cliché from Ajay!" Ajay throws down his pen in frustration.
Men's Shed
Walter is still creeping about the shed when Toadie comes in, demanding to know why Walter took the shed keys without saying anything. Walter admits he's light on funds, and when he saw the key he thought it might be a cost- free place to sleep, given that Toadie asked him to stay on. Toadie feels bad, and says he'd have been happy to lend him cash; but Walter says he doesn't want Toadie and Sonya to think he's after money. Hesitating a moment, Toadie then offers Walter to come and stay in the house with them - and he's not taking no for an answer.
Fitzgerald Motors
Mason comes back to work, and explains he had to cover for Lucas with Vanessa. While Mason's outside, Lucas admits to Chris that he's short on revenue from the garage having been off work with Patrick's illness and his own, so needs to ramp things up a bit. He's keeping it from Vanessa as he doesn't want her to worry. Lucas seems a little unwell. Chris asks if this is all just because of his intervention over the wedding Vanessa wanted, and tells Lucas that Vanessa wouldn't want him to kill himself just for that. Lucas stubbornly insists that Vanessa is getting the wedding she wants. Chris looks concerned.
Charlie's
Susan and Sheila coo over baby Patrick, and conversation turns to her budding friendship with Walter. Sheila confides that it probably won't lead anywhere, but that it's been nice to feel that kind of attraction for someone again. Susan agrees, and Patrick looks nonplussed!
No 30
Sonya is feeding Nell, and is pleasantly surprised to hear Toadie's news that Walter is going to stay with them - but feels he's overcompensating for having been rude to him at lunch. Toadie says if he was feeling left out from Sonya and Walter's relationship, it's up to him to get involved, and Walter living with them will allow him to do that. Sonya thanks him.
Harold's Store
Susan comes in to drop Patrick off with Vanessa.
VANESSA: I hope he wasn't too much trouble.
SUSAN: No, no, he was perfect. Which is more than I can say for the other boys I've been dealing with today.
Susan points over to a table where Karl and Ajay are sitting, still bickering about their set list for the upcoming gig. Karl has agreed to drop the ballads, but Ajay wants a whole new repertoire of songs too. Susan comes over.
SUSAN: You're not still arguing about the set list are you?
AJAY: No, I'm just saying we need to shake things up if we want to get more gigs and broaden our fan base.
SUSAN: Is this where I point out that you have to actually have a fan base before you can broaden it?
Sonya comes in, and she and Vanessa coo over Patrick. Sonya relays the news that Walter will be staying with them, and Vanessa has news of her own; she's booked the wedding venue in Eden Hills and wants Sonya to be her bridesmaid! Sonya's thrilled, and says it would be an honour. They hug.
Fitzgerald Motors
Lucas uses a hydraulic lift to pull the engine up out of Mr Spencer's car, but realises there's still a hose attached, and asks Chris to remove it. Chris is having trouble detaching the hose, so stands back so Mason can have a go - but during the changeover, the lift gives way and the engine collapses back into the bonnet. Lucas looks shaken; he'd forgotten to secure the release screw. Obviously tired, Lucas tells the boys to leave - he'll close up before anything else goes wrong.
Later, as he's covering up the car, Mr Spencer comes back for a progress check. Lucas tells him the car should be ready tomorrow, which seems to please the customer - but Lucas is looking tired and not too healthy. As soon as the customer's left, Lucas closes the door, but suddenly collapses onto the garage floor.
Tomorrow on Neighbours
- Kate has the bright idea of a Turner/Ramsay family dinner - incorporating Paul!
- Georgia covers for Karl at the gig, to much acclaim, leading Sheila to issue Ajay with an ultimatum
- Vanessa and Chris wonder where Lucas has got to, as he remains unconscious at the garage