Previously
- Steph agrees on a deal with Paul to keep quiet about his plan to drive her crazy
- Finding Michelle apparently hurt in the garden, Paige invites her to stay for the night
- We learn that Michelle's bruises are in fact an elaborate make- up job
- Belinda tells Sonya that Steph is in love with Toadie, and that's why she's still in town
- Sonya suggests hiring Belinda to help with Toadie's rehab, in a bid to reunite her and Steph
- Susan tells Sonya that keeping Steph from Toadie shouldn't be her primary reason for hiring Belinda
Ramsay Street
Sonya, Steph and Amy are waiting outside No 30 for Toadie's homecoming from the hospital. Amy is surprised to learn that Sonya was the one who hired Belinda to nurse him. Karl pulls up in his car, with Toadie, and everyone cheers to see him home.
While Sonya and Karl are helping him out of the car, Amy queries with Steph why Sonya would hire Belinda, after she thought she was going to try to sabotage Toadie's surgery. Steph replies that Sonya must still feel really guilty about her mistake...
Cue titles.
No 32
Michelle is sitting in the garden, touching up her fake bruises. When Paige appears, looking for her keys before she sets off for work, Michelle quickly hides her make-up under some papers, and stops Paige from looking underneath them, claiming she knows the keys aren't there.
Michelle explains this away by saying she's still jumpy because of Dimato being after her, claiming she's had another 'charming text' from him. Paige wants to use the text as evidence to give to the police, but Michelle claims she's already deleted it.
She also claims she's decided to get a new SIM card so Dimato can't track her; but since ID is required to buy one, Paige offers to pick her one up on the way home under Paige's own name. Paige finds her keys and heads off to work, telling Michelle to stay put and relax. Michelle smiles craftily as Paige leaves.
No 30
Steph is going a little overboard in making a fuss of Toadie now he's home, to Sonya's visible dismay. Belinda arrives for her first therapy session with Toadie, thanking him and Sonya for taking her on. Sonya says that Steph always said Belinda was wonderful with her patients, which seems to make Belinda uncomfortable...
Ramsay Street
Paul comes out of No 22 to find Karl standing waiting for him. Karl's keen to discuss a 'big, fresh' marketing idea for the gazebo business.
KARL: Something that's dynamic, that will really capture the attention of social media.
PAUL: Like?
KARL: Like a jingle! I'd be happy to write it, and produce it. And I'd do it for cost price as well.
PAUL: What, people actually pay you for writing songs, do they?
KARL: Well, if you want quality you have to pay for it.
Daniel comes out of No 24 in his new Lassiter's uniform, for his first day at work. Paul is not pleased to see him.
PAUL: It's ironic, isn't it? You're getting a fresh start where my career ended. It's almost like you're making a statement.
DANIEL: It's nothing personal. Like you said, Paul, I needed a job.
PAUL: Yeah. On the contrary, it couldn't be more personal if you tried.
No 30
Belinda and Toadie are in the midst of a therapy session, as she begins to help him move his legs. He thanks her for looking after him in surgery, and for helping him now. They seem to be on much friendlier terms than their previous encounters! Sonya comes in, and suggests Belinda take a break - gesturing to the kitchen where chocolates, treats and Steph await.
In the kitchen, Belinda tells Steph that Toadie's making real progress, but that it's early days. She admits she was surprised that Sonya took her on, given that she and Steph have just split up - and wonders if Sonya had mentioned another reason for hiring her. Steph says not.
No 26
Karl, Paul and Amy are having a meeting about their gazebo business. Paul is outlining the strategy he'll be adopting in his sales pitch to customers later today.
KARL: Will you tell them about my jingle?
PAUL: Err, probably best to keep that one up our sleeves, Karl...
Then, muttering to Amy...
PAUL: Forever!
AMY: Yeah.
Kyle comes in to join them. He explains that, due to being distracted by Bossy's vet appointment, he forgot to cover the prototype gazebo last night, and it got ruined in the rain. Kyle's apologetic, but Paul demands to know what he's going to show the clients in his sales pitch - and eventually suggests that they build a model.
PAUL (to Amy): You go get Jimmy's craft kit. Kyle, get your tools.
KARL: What can I do?
PAUL: Anything you want - just don't sing!
No 32
In the garden, Michelle is drying her face with a towel, and accidentally wipes off her fake bruise again! Mark turns up, and she quickly puts on sunglasses to cover her eye. Mark's annoyed to learn from Michelle that Paige let her stay there overnight, saying it's putting Paige at risk.
Michelle insists Dimato doesn't know where she is, but Mark tries again to persuade her to make a formal statement against him, so they can arrest him.
MICHELLE: And then what? He'll get off again and come after me?
MARK: I won't let that happen.
MICHELLE: Can you one hundred percent guarantee that I'll be safe?
MARK: ...
MICHELLE: Exactly.
MARK: Michelle!
MICHELLE: Forget it. I'm not making a statement.
Michelle disappears back into the house.
Harold's Café
Mark confronts Paige about her letting Michelle stay. Paige says she was hurt, and chastises Mark for not noticing the massive bruise on her face. Mark says he's not angry with Paige, but is concerned by the situation - including about why Michelle won't make a statement. Paige says Michelle's scared, and tells Mark to trust her to look after herself.
PAIGE: And if you can do that, then maybe I can get the statement for you. Okay?
MARK: Okay.
No 30
Steph and Sonya are making encouraging noises as Belinda helps Toadie get to his feet, with the aid of a walking frame. Toadie's struggling.
TOADIE: I don't think I can do this.
STEPH: Yes, you can do this. The Law Man doesn't give up, remember? Or do you want me to get on the phone to Callum and tell him his wrestling hero has caved?
Steph continues to use wrestling analogies to encourage Toadie to keep at it, and eventually he manages to stand up unsupported. Everyone's overjoyed.
TOADIE: I'm gonna walk again!
No 26
Amy and Paul are busy gluing together their model gazebo, while Paul slags off a now-absent Karl.
PAUL: I thought he'd never leave.
AMY: Karl's an investor!
PAUL: Yeah, who expected us to pay for one of his torturous songs.
KYLE: Oh, they're not that bad!
Paul and Amy gaze at Kyle in bemusement.
KYLE: Yeah, alright.
Paul puts a roof on the model gazebo, and it's finished. He points out that his dad Jim was an engineer, so fixing things is in the Robinson DNA. Paul says he and Amy make a good team, and that he doesn't know what he'd have done without her support lately - unlike his Non-Contributing Zero of a nephew, Daniel.
Paul rushes off with the model to go to his sales meeting, and Amy wishes him luck. Once he's gone, Amy tells Kyle she wishes she could help bring about a reconciliation between Paul and Daniel. Amy remembers that it's Paul's birthday soon, and decides to throw him a surprise party - and invite Daniel along, to help sort things out.
KYLE: Or you could just leave them to it!
AMY: They just need a little push - and it'll cheer Paul up. It's a win-win.
No 32
Michelle is lounging around in the garden reading her Bible, when Paige returns. Michelle apologises for causing problems between Paige and Mark, but admits she's fed up of Mark hassling her to make a statement.
MICHELLE: Have you seen the way that he looks at me? He thinks I'm scum.
PAIGE: No, he doesn't. He's just afraid that you're putting me in danger.
MICHELLE: Yeah, well maybe he's right. You've done enough; I should go somewhere else... You've been so good to me. The last thing I want is to get you in trouble.
Michelle gets up to leave, but Paige tells her not to. She says she'll sort things out with Mark, and that they can talk it over when Paige gets back from work again later. Michelle thanks Paige again, but smiles evilly as Paige leaves.
No 30
Sonya and Toadie bask in the glory of his recovering mobility, although Toadie admits that Karl has said he will be up and down for the next six months.
TOADIE: Between you and Coach Scully I'm gonna be walking in no time.
The mention of Steph makes Sonya uncomfortable, and she's even more so when Toadie teases her about her 'obvious' attempts to matchmake Steph and Belinda. He doesn't seem to have twigged that Sonya's jealousy of Steph was the motivation for this, however. Suddenly, Toadie has a burst of severe pain, and Sonya rushes to call for an ambulance.
Erinsborough Hospital
Toadie and Sonya are in Karl's office. Toadie's on painkillers so is feeling much better, and Karl says that the pain may in fact be a good sign that feeling is returning to Toadie's lower body - but adds that the surgeon has requested the full gamut of tests, just to make sure there's nothing more serious going on. The results will be back later today.
Toadie asks Sonya to call Steph, to let her know what's going on - so she leaves to do this, albeit unenthusiastically. Once she's gone, Toadie talks to Karl alone.
TOADIE: I'm having a bit of a problem... downstairs.
Harold's Café
Amy comes in just as Daniel's leaving. She tells him that she's planning a surprise party for Paul's birthday, and asks if Daniel would help her organise it. Daniel doesn't think it's a good idea, explaining that Paul disowned him last week after finding out that Daniel was the one who leaked the files from Paul's hard drive. Daniel wishes Amy luck with the party, and leaves.
Michelle comes in, having received a message from Paige - who presents her with the prepaid SIM card she's bought for her. Michelle thanks her, and explains that an old friend has invited her to stay tonight, so she won't need to impinge on Paige again. Paige accepts this, but tells Michelle to take care of herself.
No 30
Steph is relieved to have heard from the hospital that Toadie's okay, and tells Belinda how great she was with him today. Steph also admits she thought things might be awkward between she and Belinda, but that she thinks they can handle it.
BELINDA: I won't be staying.
STEPH: What?
BELINDA: Yeah, I've decided to leave Erinsborough.
STEPH: Why? You only just started your job!
BELINDA: It's too hard, this being together, but not together.
STEPH: Come on, we can make it work.
BELINDA: No.
STEPH: We have to make it work, for Toadie's sake.
BELINDA: No, it's too messy... As long as I have feelings for you, it will be.
Belinda admits that she told Sonya that Steph was in love with Toadie, saying it's because she was jealous of Steph's friendship with Toadie. Belinda adds that Sonya is jealous too, and that she only took Belinda on in order to protect her relationship with Toadie by attempting to get Belinda and Steph to rekindle things.
STEPH: How many times do I have to say this? I am not in love with Toadie!
BELINDA: Yeah, well. It's not me you need to convince now. Goodbye, Steph.
An emotional Belinda walks out.
Harold's Café
Steph finds Sonya in the café and confronts her about Belinda's allegations - explaining that she knows Belinda said Steph was in love with Toadie, and that she thinks Sonya hired her to trigger a shift of affections in Steph.
SONYA: Yes. Belinda told me that you were still in love with Jarrod, and it just unsettled me. So yes, there was a part of me that would like you two to reconcile. But I also gave Belinda the job because I think she deserves a second chance.
STEPH: Well she won't be taking it. She's quit.
Sonya protests that she'll talk to Belinda, but Steph replies that Belinda's leaving is for the best.
STEPH: You know, ever since I came back here I have worked so hard to earn your trust. I thought I was finally on the right track - that everything was out in the open, and that we were moving forward.
SONYA: No, we are. I'm sorry, I don't even know what I was thinking... Can you please just not tell Jarrod about this? Please?
Steph just shakes her head and leaves.
Erinsborough Hospital
Steph comes in to see Toadie. He's a bit high on painkillers, and has already heard that Belinda has quit. Steph promises to find Toadie another nurse. However, he tells Steph that he has bigger things than Belinda to worry about.
TOADIE: I just got the results back from the specialist.
STEPH: What did they say?
TOADIE: Can you not tell Sonya, please?
Steph shakes her head.
TOADIE: Okay - it seems that he may have caused some other damage during the operation.
STEPH: Was this when Sonya interrupted?
TOADIE: Yeah. So, I won't be having any more babies.
STEPH: What?
TOADIE: Yep. I had a pretty low sperm count as it was, but now it's impossible.
Sonya arrives outside, and sees Steph through the window, putting a comforting arm on Toadie's shoulder.
Unmissable Drama
- Sonya admits to Toadie the real reason for her decision to hire Belinda
- Lauren says that watching Kathy settle Amber in in Queensland brought a lot of memories back
- Brad supports Josh, who's continuing to doubt his ability to be a parent to Matilda
- Sonya lets slip to Amy about Paul's role in Steph's recent psychotic episode
- Amy calls Paul a selfish old jerk
