Previously
- Naomi encourages Sheila to pursue the Brennans' father Russell, but she claims not to be interested
- Imogen is surprised when Caspar takes a liking to Daniel, and suggests they should hang out more
- Amber tells Josh she's decided not to go to America on her own
- Josh continues to deceive Amber by posing online as another young mum- to- be
- Toadie and Sonya are horrified when Amy accidentally throws away Nell's favourite teddy
- After Kyle comes up with the idea of a memorial service for the bear, Amy gives him a loaded hug
No 26 / Munich Hospital
Kyle is video-chatting to Georgia in Germany, but both of them seem on edge. When Georgia asks how things are going with Amy, Kyle is briefly defensive - but she's only talking about the beautification project.
KYLE: Yeah, it's turned out well. The suburb, that is.
GEORGIA: You guys getting along better?
KYLE: Mm. Things are fine.
GEORGIA: Okay. Good.
KYLE: I miss you.
GEORGIA: Yeah, I miss you too...
Georgia says she has to go and see her mum, so they agree to chat again tonight.
KYLE: I love you.
GEORGIA: Me too.
Kyle closes the laptop, and puts his head in his hands.
The Waterhole
Amy is sitting at the bar, looking glumly at Tradie magazine with the picture of her and Kyle on the front. We shift to Terese, Josh and Imogen at one of the tables, where Josh and Imogen are both distracted with papers and a laptop respectively, and ignoring Terese's offer of a drink (she already has a glass of wine in hand).
Terese takes a call from Paul, who asks her to do a conference call for him, as he still doesn't have an executive assistant following Naomi's departure. Terese says she's busy, but grudgingly agrees, and leaves her kids to it. We see that Josh is striking up a conversation with Amber on a messenger app, still pretending to be Young Mum '97.
No 32 / The Waterhole
Amber receives the message, but quickly closes the window when Lauren approaches. Lauren asks if her photos are selling well on the web store app - Amber says she's sold a few small ones, and Lauren assures her it will pick up. Once Lauren's gone, Amber replies to Young Mum '97, saying she's nervous about her amniocentesis today - and that she's having to go alone, since Josh has forgotten.
Back in the pub, realising about the amnio, Josh calls himself an idiot, but makes an excuse when Imogen asks him what's up. Replying to Amber as Young Mum '97, he suggests that she should tell the father about the amnio, but Amber replies saying that he'd have remembered if he really cared.
Lassiter's Complex
Sheila informs Paul that she thinks someone has been stealing wine from The Waterhole, and that she suspects it's Nate, since it all started at the time Ezra Hanley took him on. Paul tells her to find evidence as they can't risk a wrongful dismissal suit. Sheila suggests setting up a security camera in the stock room, but they're interrupted by Jimmy and Naomi turning up.
Paul rushes off to entertain Jimmy, telling Sheila that she can handle the wine theft situation on her own. Once he's gone, Naomi expresses surprise that Sheila let Paul get away with fobbing her off, as she never does usually. But Sheila replies that sometimes, she only has energy for one battle a day.
Sheila walks off, and Naomi joins Susan, who is sitting in the courtyard. Naomi mentions that Sheila seems to be a bit blue lately, and has 'lost her mojo'. Susan says she hadn't noticed, but suggests they could take her out for dinner to cheer her up. When Naomi says it might require more than that, Susan shows Naomi an article she's just been reading which might help solve the problem...
Lassiter's
In the foyer, Daniel has a collision with Terese who, taking the blame for running into him, asks after his recent trip to the sanctuary with Imogen. He says they had a good time, but that with Caspar now on the scene, it's perhaps not likely to happen again soon. Terese tells him not to be so sure.
TERESE: Imogen's not a great fan of beards, if you know what I mean.
DANIEL: Has she said something to you?
TERESE: No, no. She doesn't need to. A mother knows everything.
The Waterhole
Kyle comes in to grab some afternoon tea, and has an awkward conversation with Amy as they both try to speak at once. Amy says that now the beautification project's finished, she's thinking of moving elsewhere with Jimmy. Kyle is falsely upbeat about it, saying it's a good idea and that she has to do what's best for her family.
KYLE: It's been great working with you.
AMY: Yeah, you too.
KYLE: Good luck.
They look at one another awkwardly, before Amy says she has to go and meet Paul and Jimmy. Kyle is flustered as she leaves.
Harold's Store
Paul has bought Jimmy a milkshake and has some good news to tell him - that Amy has decided to stay on Erinsborough, meaning they'll get to spend more time together. Jimmy's thrilled and reels off a list of things they can do together now he's staying in town - but Amy comes in and bursts their bubble, saying that she's decided they will be moving on after all.
JIMMY: But, I like it here. I just started to make new friends.
AMY: Well I'm sorry about all that. But we'll be leaving as soon as we can pack all our things.
Paul looks disappointed.
Lassiter's Complex
Outside Harold's, Amy lays into Paul for telling Jimmy that they were staying, saying it's her job to tell him things like that. But Paul's interested to know why it is that Amy has changed her mind about staying in Erinsborough. When pushed, she claims that the permanent job with Kyle fell through, and that she has to go elsewhere to find work.
PAUL: Oh, great, so he's reneged on his job offer?
AMY: No, I decided that it wasn't gonna work long-term.
PAUL: Okay, what's he done?
AMY: Just leave it. I've made my decision; we're moving on, okay? This isn't a democracy and you don't get a vote.
Ramsay Street
Susan is thanking Lauren for volunteering her house to host a special something for Sheila tonight, as part of the plan to cheer her up. Amber turns up as Susan is leaving; she's worried about the amnio, and particularly the chance that it will cause a miscarriage, or that the baby will be given a fatal diagnosis. Lauren reassures her that she'll be there for her whatever happens.
Josh comes across the road, asking if Amber is ready to go to the amnio. Amber is surprised and a little disconcerted, as she thought he'd forgotten. Lauren suggests that Amber and Josh should go to the appointment together, without her, but says she has her phone if Amber needs her. Amber and Josh prepare to leave for the appointment.
No 22
Daniel comes round to check on Imogen, who's busy studying and acting pretty tersely with him. He soon asks after Caspar, remembering that he'd promised to send him some links on sustainability.
DANIEL: He's a good guy.
IMOGEN: Yeah, he is.
DANIEL: Great beard.
IMOGEN: What?
DANIEL: Well, it's just a comment. I mean, not everyone's into beards. Personally, I love beards.
IMOGEN: Mum, right?
DANIEL: I don't know what you're talking about.
IMOGEN: You think you're so smart - you can just come in, drop some gossip from my mum, and that's it. Job done. Well you're wrong. And if you think that's all it takes to impress me, then you don't know me at all.
Defeated, Daniel slinks off.
Lassiter's
Imogen comes in, and has a go at Terese for dropping hints to Daniel about her reservations over Caspar.
TERESE: Hey, you should be thanking me! That boy was buying all that 'Caspar and I are great' rubbish. I was just trying to give him a fighting chance.
Imogen objects, saying that she does actually like Caspar, but Terese simply disagrees and says she knows it's Daniel she wants to be with. Imogen's still furious, but Terese tells her she doesn't want her missing out on something she really wants - and was only trying to help.
IMOGEN: Well next time you get the urge, suppress it!
Imogen's about to stamp off, but Terese stops her, saying she just wants to be a part of Imogen's life and for her kids to know they're important to her. Terese heads off to a conference, saying they can talk later.
Dial-A-Kyle
Paul has turned up to confront Kyle about why Amy is leaving, and hasn't accepted his job offer. Kyle keeps quiet about their awkward moment together, saying that Paul will have to talk to Amy if he wants to know why she's leaving. But Paul notices how cagey Kyle is being, and remembering his discomfort over the magazine photos, asks what has gone on between him and Amy.
KYLE: Nothing. Nothing! How could you even say that, Paul? I'm married, in case you've forgotten.
PAUL: So? Since when has been married got anything to do with anything?
KYLE: Look, I've got somewhere to be. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.
But Paul looks suspicious as Kyle gets ready to leave.
No 32
Darkness has fallen. Lauren's patio is decked out with pagan decorations, candles and a large burning torch, and she and Susan are wearing leafy headdresses as Naomi brings Sheila out of the back doors, unveiling the surprise they've arranged for her.
SHEILA: What is this?
SUSAN: We have gathered here tonight to honour your wisdom, your age and your experience with a croning ceremony.
SHEILA: Croning? You mean like, old crone? Like Wicked Witch of the West?
SUSAN: No, no, no. It's not like that at all - the word's been reclaimed. A crone is a very powerful woman - a woman who's lived, who's wise and generous.
SHEILA: Me? hardly.
SUSAN: Yes, absolutely you, Sheila.
NAOMI: And at one point or another, you have helped each of us. And this community wouldn't be the same without you.
LAUREN: So we have come here to say thank you, and to celebrate you.
SHEILA: You want to celebrate silly old me?
SUSAN: Yes, we do, because we think you're wonderful.
NAOMI: And weird.
LAUREN: And wise!
Kicking off the ceremony, Susan presents Sheila with her own pagan necklace and headgear.
SUSAN: Women have relied one each other for thousands of years, for support, for knowledge and for wisdom.
LAUREN: Our wisdom is not written down. It is passed from woman to woman through generations in conversations.
SUSAN: And at the centre of the conversation is the crone.
NAOMI: An elder of her people. A woman of power and insight, whose wisdom has guided and inspired all those who are blessed to be in her circle.
SHEILA: So we are gathered here tonight as a family of Sheila's, to tell you that we honour you, and we value you, and we love you. So here's to Sheila, the first crone of Erinsborough!
ALL: To Sheila!
Sheila is overwhelmed with emotion.
Indoors, as the ceremony continues outside, Josh and Amber discuss the results of the amnio. The baby has been confirmed to have only a mild case of CDH, and there was no miscarriage. Josh tries to put a positive gloss on it, but Amber is still worried for the baby's future. Josh puts a hand on her arm, saying he'll always be there for her. Amber says that means a lot, and thanks him for coming.
Amber goes to make tea, and asks after Josh's job to change the subject; he says it's going okay. They're interrupted by Lauren coming in making weird pagan warbling noises; realising Amber's back, she kisses her and says she got her text with the amnio results - they now all just have to hope for no further complications with the baby. Explaining the noise outside, Lauren says they're honouring Sheila with a women's ceremony.
JOSH: Okay, I'm guessing that's my cue to leave.
Josh promises to call Amber later, and says well done to her for today. Before he goes, Lauren tells them how proud she is of both of them for the way they're handling the pregnancy/CDH stuff together. Josh leaves, and Amber thanks Lauren, before she disappears back outside, warbling again.
Harold's Store
Jimmy and Amy are eating. Paul comes in and gets rid of Jimmy by giving him money to go and pay for his and Amy's meal, before confronting Amy by asking her what's happened with Kyle. He wonders if they've kissed or something more, but she admits they 'sort of' had a moment, and quickly backed off afterwards. Paul says she'd be crazy to leave because of that.
PAUL: Jimmy loves it here; you love it here. I love having you here. Why would you want to throw all that away, eh?
AMY: Because I don't want to get involved in something I'd hate myself for.
PAUL: So don't. Don't work for Kyle; in fact, don't ever speak to the man again. But don't you run away like you've done something wrong.
Jimmy comes back as Paul asks Amy to stay, and he joins the chorus to persuade her, egged on shamelessly by Paul.
AMY: Talk about playing dirty.
PAUL: Yeah, well I wrote the book there.
But Amy says she needs work if she's to stay, saying she won't take handouts from Paul. Instead, he offers her a job, as his new executive assistant. Amy laughs sceptically, but Paul says it could just be a stopgap until she finds something suitable. Jimmy looks hopefully at an incredulous Amy...
The Waterhole
Kyle comes in, just as he's sending a text to Georgia, saying he loves her. Sheila is leaving a message on Nate's voicemail, summoning him in tomorrow for an important work-related chat - presumably regarding her suspicion that he's stealing wine. Once she's finished, Kyle asks about her headdress.
KYLE: What on earth is that?
SHEILA: It's a symbol of the mystery and power of woman.
KYLE: What?!
SHEILA: That's all you're getting.
Sheila is distracted as she reviews some of the footage from the CCTV she's installed in the stock room. She's surprised to see Terese helping herself to a bottle of wine and putting it in her bag!
Next Time
- Sheila brings up the subject of the missing wine with Terese
- Naomi is appalled when Sheila admits she's been through Terese's rubbish and that Brad caught her
- Amber tells Lauren she'll get more test results tomorrow, so they'll 'know what they're up against'
- Paul tells Daniel that if Imogen's moved on, so should he. But Naomi urges him to ignore Paul
- Russell is surprised to walk in on Josh and Aaron performing an exotic dance routine