Previously
- When Lauren questions Brad about their 'moment', he says that he's committed to Terese
- Karl tells Josh and Amber that their baby only has a mild form of CDH, meaning she has a chance
- Brad sees his younger self in Daniel, and wonders if he might end up breaking Imogen's heart
- Ben's worried when Brad sets the class an exercise involving searching for themselves on the net
- Alison reveals to Ben that his classmates have found nude photos of him online
Erinsborough High School
Brad tells an array of school extras that Ben will be replacing Josie Lamb in the line-up for the inter-school music concert, but they're all giggling about something - and Ben hasn't turned up for the meeting yet. Brad sees Ben outside in the corridor and goes to fetch him, but Ben makes it clear he no longer wants to be involved in the concert. Brad thinks he's just nervous, but Ben insists he's not playing, and leaves. Brad notices that all the other kids are watching what's going on, and looks worried.
Lassiter's
Imogen and Daniel are just leaving the building, hand-in-hand, when Terese turns up and starts talking to them. Imogen asks if she can stay at Daniel's again tonight, but Terese suggests that the pair of them stay at No 22 instead, and offers to cook for them.
TERESE: And I promise, no capsicum.
Imogen's not sure whether Brad will be okay with Daniel staying over, but Terese insists he will once she's talked to him.
TERESE: Daniel's a part of your life, which makes him a part of ours now. So you're more than welcome to come over whenever you want.
Imogen and Daniel thank Terese, and she leaves. But Amber is walking by outside, and is upset to see Imogen and Daniel kissing. Amber goes into Harold's.
Harold's Store
Amber comes in, as Paige is showing Karl some of Amber's photos that they're putting up in the store. Karl would stick around to help, except that Susan's asked him to go and pick up some papers from the school. Karl leaves, while Paige tries to work out why Amber's looking so miserable. Amber explains that she just saw Daniel and Imogen together, but she insists she's not jealous, and says she knows that she did the right thing by breaking up with Daniel.
Erinsborough High School
Brad is just dismissing the concert group, when Karl drops in to see how Ben's rehearsals are going. He's surprised when Brad tells him Ben has pulled out, as he seemed so pleased to have been picked for the concert and getting on well with the others. Brad admits that some of the kids seemed to be laughing at Ben, and that they were looking at something on their phones. Brad has been waiting to talk to Susan about it, rather than confiscating the phones. Karl's perplexed, but has an idea and rushes off.
Off Air
Daniel and Imogen are shifting furniture into the area outside the bar. Daniel's worried about staying at the Willises', but Imogen reassures him that it'll be fine, especially since Daniel and Brad bonded over wood-carving.
DANIEL: I just don't know if we're ready to run into each other in our PJs on the way to the bathroom yet.
IMOGEN: Oh, well luckily, they have an en suite.
DANIEL: I dunno. You're his little girl, and he's gonna want to protect you.
IMOGEN: Well he's gonna have to get over that. We're both adults, and we're a couple now. And if anyone's got a problem with that, they'll have me to answer to.
Daniel therefore agrees to stay the night.
No 22
Terese is searching for some paperwork. Brad is trying to tell her about Ben's mysterious decision to pull out of the concert, but she's clearly not taking any notice of him. Josh comes in, as things get tetchy between Brad and Terese; he makes it clear he knows she hasn't been listening, and she makes it clear her paperwork is more important. Terese then notices a wooden sculpture that Brad has carved and put on the table as an ornament.
TERESE: So where did this come from?
BRAD: I put it there this morning.
TERESE: ...
BRAD: What, you don't like it?
TERESE: No, no, I think it's lovely. I just, erm... I personally wouldn't have put it there. I just don't think it goes.
JOSH: Well I think it's cool.
BRAD: Thanks, mate.
Things deteriorate further, as Terese tells Brad she's invited Daniel to stay the night with Imogen. Brad's annoyed that she hadn't consulted him about it first. She says she didn't have time.
TERESE: Look, I know you're busy with your concert. But try doing my job for five minutes.
BRAD: Oh, I see. My job's not important, and my opinion doesn't matter.
Brad storms off back to work.
The Waterhole
Karl is questioning Tyler about what might be troubling Ben, and why he's quit the concert and is avoiding the other schoolkids. Tyler suggests he might be missing his mum, but Karl can see Tyler knows more than he's letting on, and asks Tyler to share what Ben has told him.
TYLER: Karl, it's not my place to say.
KARL: Have you any idea how many people say they don't want to get involved with a kid who's being harassed and bullied, because they're more concerned about the consequences for themselves instead of the kid? Do you know, they always end up regretting it. Because if you don't step in, the kid could go into a downward spiral. They could harm themselves. Or worse. Tyler, you need to tell me what's going on.
Erinsborough High School
Turns out Harold's does takeaway now; Lauren has brought Brad his pre-ordered afternoon tea for the concert rehearsals! She asks how the preparation is going, and he tells her about how he's now an act short for the concert. She suggests he get a 'local muso' in.
BRAD: What, Karl Kennedy?
LAUREN (laughing): Maybe not.
Brad is still optimistic about the concert though, and Lauren says she likes that about him - he isn't put off by hiccups. They get onto talking about family, and Brad mentions that Terese is preoccupied with work at the moment - and that she invited Daniel to stay the night with Imogen. Lauren says it's natural that Brad has reservations; Imogen's his little girl. But Brad says he's more annoyed that Terese didn't discuss it with him. Lauren's sure she'll consult him next time, now she knows it upset him - and tells him to concentrate his energies on the concert. As she leaves, Brad says...
BRAD: Hey, Lauren? Thank you.
Lauren smiles at him.
No 28
Ben comes in, and Karl immediately starts probing about why he's not at school, and why he pulled out of the concert. Ben claims it's just because the concert is lame, and tries to go to his room.
KARL: I know why you pulled out. This is about the photos.
BEN: You've seen them?!
Karl admits that Tyler has told him about the situation - but that he had to force it out of him. Karl tries to talk to Ben about it, but he's mortified, and walks straight back out of the front door. Karl goes to pick up his phone...
Fitzgerald Motors
Ben storms into the garage to confront Tyler, furious that he broke his promise and told Karl about the photos.
TYLER: He was worried things might get worse, and that you might do something to hurt yourself.
BEN: As if!
TYLER: I couldn't live with myself if you did something stupid.
Tyler tells Ben that he, Karl and Susan can help him through this, but Ben angrily says Tyler has no idea what he went through in Ballarat - and now it's all happening again.
TYLER: I'm sorry. I'll do whatever I can to try and fix this.
BEN: There's nothing you can do. Everyone's seen the photos. My life - my life is over, man.
Ben decides he's going to try and get his mum to home-school him.
TYLER: I'll home-school you! What's the worst that could happen?
Ben smiles.
No 28
Karl is talking to Brad about Ben's photos situation. Brad is sympathetic, and says they need a strategy to help Ben get through it. Ben comes in with Tyler, looking happier - but his face falls when he sees Brad. He's about to storm off again, when Karl insists he sit down with him and Brad and talk to them about it.
BEN: There's nothing to talk about. I want to go to China and be with Mum.
Tyler tells him that the kids will find someone else to pick on soon, and Brad adds that running away won't solve anything.
BRAD: What if there was a way for you to get the power back? Show everyone who you really are - not the person they've seen online?
No 22 / Lassiter's Complex
Josh receives a text on his StalkerPhone™ from Amber, telling 'Phoebe' about the maternity jeans she's just bought. Josh texts back as Phoebe, saying 'I'll be needing those soon!!' Amber, who is sitting in the Lassiter's courtyard, replies, saying 'scary, huh?' Josh walks into the kitchen and finds Daniel and Imogen pashing on the breakfast bar.
JOSH: Oh, can you get a room?!
Embarrassed, Daniel and Imogen rush off outside, while Josh texts Amber again, saying 'Scary is catching ur sister and new bf going for it in the kitchen.'
In the Complex, Amber laughs at the message from Phoebe. Meanwhile, Lauren chats to Brad, who tells her he's hopeful that Ben will want to be involved in the concert again, as he may have made a breakthrough with him. Lauren is pleased for him. Amber watches them as they talk, and looks worried. She then gets another text from 'Phoebe', asking if she's still there.
Back at No 22, Josh receives a reply from Amber, who still thinks she's confiding in 'Phoebe'. 'Watching mum flirt with our neighbour, her old BF again!! Dad died recently & mum said she had a moment with this guy (sad face).' Josh looks concerned.
Erinsborough High School
Ben, Brad, Tyler and Karl are gathered outside the classroom, discussing their plan of action. Ben confirms he's ready to do this, so they go in. The extras immediately start giggling at Ben, but Karl sets a video playing on the television, and Ben begins to play his guitar. Brad gets a call on his phone from Terese, but he ignores it as he's watching Ben's performance.
Ben plays his guitar, while on the video, we see footage filmed earlier, of him silently holding up a series of sheets of paper to the camera. The first one reads, 'I did something stupid.' The extras are still chuckling, as Ben continues to play. The sheets of paper read, 'But now I'm owning it.' 'I was in love.' 'She broke my heart.'
The extras begin to look suitably sombre and ashamed of themselves, as the guitar-playing and video continue. The sheets of paper say, 'I acted without thinking.' 'I'm not asking for sympathy.' 'This is about taking responsibility.' 'I made a mistake.' 'And I'm paying for it.' 'But if you're tempted to do the same thing,' 'Don't do it.' 'Think!!!' 'Don't do something stupid.' 'Remember what happened to me.'
The guitar-playing becomes more upbeat as Karl and Tyler look on wisely, then comes to a close as, on the video, Ben reaches the end of his paper reel, and stares into the camera.
No 22
Brad comes in, bragging to Terese, Daniel, Josh and Imogen about how he managed to get through to Ben and get him back on board with the concert.
BRAD: You know, it's moments like this that make all those doubts about teaching just disappear!
But Terese isn't remotely interested in hearing Brad's self-congratulations, and instead tears strips off him for not answering or checking his phone earlier, when she was trying to call and text him to ask him to pick up an avocado for dinner. Brad says his phone was off.
TERESE: Well, then - it looks like guacamole's off the menu.
She gets increasingly snappy with Brad about not checking his phone, until he brings up (in a roundabout way) the fact that she never checked with him before inviting Daniel to stay the night. Feeling uncomfortable, Daniel and Imogen decide to leave, saying they're going back to Daniel's - and that they can have dinner together another night.
Once they've gone, a furious Terese continues to berate Brad for not looking at his phone, while Josh looks increasingly uncomfortable.
TERESE: I can't help feeling that you sabotaged dinner because you weren't happy that Daniel was coming over!
BRAD: No, I wasn't happy because you made the decision without me!
TERESE: Right. So you did it out of spite?
Brad angrily pulls his phone out of his pocket, to prove to Terese that it's turned off, which is why he didn't get her messages. They argue a bit more, as Terese gets increasingly irate - finally taking it out on the wooden sculpture Brad put on the table.
TERESE: Does this really need to be here?!
BRAD: No, it doesn't. And I will get rid of it. And don't worry about dinner - because I have lost my appetite!
Brad walks out, sculpture in hand.
TERESE: Can you believe your father? I wasn't the one that was late!
JOSH: He's right, Mum, it's just a stupid dinner. We can do it any time.
TERESE: Well, I'm not gonna bother.
JOSH: No, you know what, Mum? Enough! Stop! Take a seat. I'm gonna tell you something about you and Dad, and you're not gonna like it.
Shortly afterwards, Josh pointedly tells Terese that she's ruining her marriage through the way she's treating Brad. Terese responds with hostility, saying married couples fight all the time - but Josh clearly think things are falling apart, and says he doesn't want his parents to divorce. He insists Terese should treat Brad better.
JOSH: Because if you don't, he's gonna go elsewhere!
Unmissable Drama
- Angie Rebecchi is back in Erinsborough to tend to her ailing son
- Sonya finds a note saying 'I regret getting married', and Paul returns it to who he thinks wrote it
- At the hospital, Amber shouts at Josh to get out
- Tyler accuses Russell of trying to control him
- Terese shouts 'stuff you!' at Brad and apologises for being such an embarrassment
- Brad tells Lauren that they've always been drawn to each other