Previously
- Imogen rescues a collapsed Susan during the Heatwave™
- Doug is upset that he forgot Susan had collapsed and to get help
- Piper wants to make a 'Pop Doc' documentary about Doug's life, to help with his Alzheimer's
- An overheated Steph calls Philippa 'sick in the head' at their mediation session over Charlie
- Kyle rushes to Sheila's aid following her latest collapse
- DHS lady Bernice recommends that Xanthe is placed in interim care
- Kyle guiltily admits that he called the DHS, in order to give Xanthe a wake- up call. She reacts badly
Erinsborough Hospital
Kyle and Amy are sitting with an unconscious Sheila. Kyle explains to Amy that the doctors have replaced Sheila's coronary stent. Amy remarks that the house was quiet last night without Xanthe, who is now living in a group home in Anson's Corner. Kyle's surprised that Xanthe let the DHS take her away without a fight, but Amy points out she had no choice, since Kyle reported her to them.
KYLE: I'm an idiot.
AMY: No, you're not. But we need to talk to the DHS, and convince them to let her come home.
KYLE: I just hope I can fix this before Gran wakes up.
Sheila's eyelids twitch...
Cue titles.
No 30
Sonya is moaning to Toadie and Steph about the meeting she has to have with Paul today about the Citizen of the Year Awards. Steph isn't really listening, and when Sonya's gone, Toadie asks if she's heard from Philippa or Max after she sent a present to Charlie. But she hasn't heard a thing.
Steph admits she's still kicking herself for the way she behaved in her mediation session with Philippa.
TOADIE: You got emotional; it happens. You know what you're worth, and you know what you deserve.
Steph gets an email from Philippa, asking to arrange a time for Steph and Charlie to have a video call. Assuming he did get the present after all, Toadie suggests that Philippa may be feeling bad too about how the mediation session went. Steph's excited about the prospect of speaking to Charlie.
Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe comes in with a flower bouquet she's made for Sheila, but runs into Kyle in the ward. He asks about the group home she's staying in; Xanthe says it 'didn't completely suck', but is still quite cold towards Kyle, saying she's here to see Sheila, not him.
KYLE: I overreacted. I was being a jerk. But I didn't want you to leave.
Xanthe isn't interested, and pushes past Kyle to go and see Sheila - but Kyle stops her, saying it would be best if Sheila didn't find out that Xanthe had been taken into care. He says he's spoken to Xanthe's caseworker, and wants to meet with her and convince her to let Xanthe stay at No 26.
KYLE: Xanthe, I really want you to come home.
XANTHE: Okay. I guess it can't hurt to talk.
Kyle is thrilled, then again reiterates that it's best Sheila doesn't know about what's happened.
No 22
Doug and Piper are doing some baking. Piper complains about the 'fake' maple syrup in the kitchen cupboard, and Doug remarks that she was spoiled living in Canada.
DOUG: Do you remember when I visited, and we went to a pancake parlour, and bumped into...
PIPER: Chas, yeah. You remember that?
DOUG: I remember you didn't want to introduce him to me...
Josh comes in, fresh from his trip to Brisbane to see Matilda and Amber. Before Josh is in earshot, Piper whispers to Doug, asking if they can keep the 'Chas thing' between them, and he agrees. After welcoming Josh home, Piper gets a text from Xanthe. She explains to Doug and Josh how Xanthe has been taken into care following Sheila's heart attack.
Josh gets a text himself, from Paul, who wants him to run a few errands. Before he goes to get on with them, he takes Piper aside and asks how Doug's doing. She says it's fine for Josh to go to work and leave them; she'll keep Doug occupied by filming some of her 'Pop Doc' documentary. Josh leaves, and Piper returns to the kitchen, where she and Doug have a song and dance!
Erinsborough Hospital
Kyle and Amy are waiting in one of the hospital rooms to meet Xanthe's DHS caseworker; Kyle didn't want to be too far away from Sheila. Amy makes a joke about how Xanthe should have done their makeup for the occasion, but Xanthe walks in at that moment, and is upset that she's being made fun of. She coldly tells them that the caseworker will be with them in a second.
No 30
Steph comes in and talks to Toadie. She reveals she's just come off the phone from Philippa - she and Max intend to use the mediator's report to support Philippa's adoption request.
STEPH: And they don't want me to have any access.
Steph is assuming they're allowing her to have the video call with Charlie out of sympathy, perhaps as a final goodbye. Steph says she's going to use the call with Charlie to her advantage, however.
STEPH: They underestimate what we have. He came here to see me off his own bat, remember? He does want me in his life.
TOADIE: Steph, what are you gonna say?
SONYA: Don't worry, I'm not gonna pressure him. I won't need to.
Erinsborough Hospital
Josh comes in; he's brought a hamper for Sheila, on Paul's behalf (the latter personage being Not In This Episode™). Sheila wakes up.
SHEILA: You're the last person I expected to see, Josh Willis.
JOSH: Yeah, well Paul asked me to bring this over for you.
SHEILA: Hmm. What do you think he's angling for?
Josh suggests Paul's just trying to be nice! Sheila's sceptical but asks Josh to thank Paul for her anyway. Josh asks after her health, and Sheila says she feels like a brand new woman thanks to the replaced stent. Sheila asks where Xanthe is as she needs to speak to her, to clear the air after their fight. But Sheila gathers from Josh's reaction that something is wrong...
SHEILA: Why are you being so slippery? Where is my granddaughter?
No 22
In the back yard, Piper is filming Doug for her Pop Doc. It gets off to a shaky start, as he can't even remember that they just made pancakes for breakfast. However, once Piper prompts him, the memories come flooding back, including of Piper as a little girl.
PIPER: Do you remember when I was born?
DOUG: We planned to go to your birth, but something happened.
PIPER: Yeah, Mum went into early labour.
DOUG: That's right.
PIPER: Yeah, and Nan told you to floor it to the hospital.
DOUG: And we got pulled over on the way. Got a whopping ticket, but I didn't care!
PIPER: Did you make it?
DOUG: Just when you were delivered. Family's a miracle. Bringing you kids into the world - that's how we make our mark.
Piper smiles as she films him.
Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe, Kyle and Amy are talking to Juliet Worth, the DHS caseworker. Kyle and Amy are trying to do their best to convince Juliet that they both get on with Xanthe, but Juliet is therefore curious as to why Kyle called the DHS in the first place.
KYLE: That was just one of those normal, sibling blow-up type of things!
Kyle admits that he thought Xanthe caused Sheila's heart attack. Juliet seems alarmed that he blames his sister for this, but Kyle quickly backtracks and assures her he doesn't anymore. Suddenly, Sheila bursts in in her hospital nightgown, a saline drip still attached to her arm!
SHEILA: What is going on here?!
KYLE: Gran, what are you doing out of bed?
SHEILA: Well I'm here to sort out this terrible mess... Kyle Eugene Canning, what were you thinking, calling the DHS on your sister?!
JULIET: ...
SHEILA: Love, no offence - but my granddaughter leaves this family over my dead body!
XANTHE: Don't say that!
AMY: It's all a big mistake!
SHEILA: Oh, you bet your sweet bippy it was!
Juliet says she understood Sheila wasn't well enough to look after Xanthe, but Sheila cites her very presence at the meeting as evidence of her good health! Juliet tells Sheila it isn't just her decision - ultimately, Xanthe will have to say whether she's happy to return home to the Cannings'.
SHEILA: Do you want to come home with us, love?
XANTHE: I dunno...
No 30
Steph is beginning her video call with Charlie. She's ultra-enthusiastic, but Charlie looks anything but. He doesn't even respond when she mentions the model aeroplane she's sent him as a present.
STEPH: So did Philippa and your dad tell you what's happening?
CHARLIE: They're making decisions.
STEPH: Yeah, that's right - about you and I being able to see each other. We're all trying to figure it out together.
CHARLIE: I think I want to stay here with Mum and Dad.
STEPH: ... That's okay. Yeah, that's fine - that's, umm - whatever works for you, kiddo. But you still wanna come and visit every now and then, though, right?
CHARLIE: Mum told me you were sick again. I thought you were better.
STEPH: Yeah, I am. I am - yeah, it all just got a bit intense. We had this really hot day, and, erm... but no, nothing to worry about. So maybe you want to come and visit in a while? Like, erm, maybe next school holidays or something?
CHARLIE: I gotta go.
Steph starts asking if it's Max telling Charlie to end the conversation, but the screen goes blank before he can answer. Steph looks disappointed.
Erinsborough Hospital
Sheila is trying to convince Xanthe to come home, calling Kyle a 'nincompoop' for having dobbed on her to the DHS. But Xanthe seems convinced that it's better for her to stay where she is at the care home.
KYLE: It's not better for us.
AMY: Jimmy adores you.
XANTHE: You guys are forgetting about everything I've done. And that's before I abandoned Sheila.
KYLE: Not forgetting - forgiving!
Amy and Sheila both slap Kyle on the wrists!
KYLE: I was being honest!
XANTHE: I just wish that Mum would get in contact with me. You're too sick to look after me.
SHEILA: Not anymore!
Kyle insists that Xanthe didn't cause Sheila's heart attack, and Sheila apologises for earlier having made out that her condition was worse than it was. Xanthe still feels bad for her behaviour.
KYLE (to Xanthe): What you've done is a breeze compared to what I used to get up to - hey, Gran?
SHEILA: Wipe that silly smile off your face, you're still nothing but grief to me!
Xanthe continues to be sceptical about moving back in.
SHEILA: Oh, for Pete's sake! Can you see the lengths we have gone to to make you see that we want you? Kyle is wearing a suit, for heaven's sakes. Amy is in a dress! And I am wandering around this hospital in the world's ugliest nightie! Surely that tells you that we love you?
No 22
Piper continues to film the 'Pop Doc', and asks Doug why he left Ramsay Street. Doug becomes confused and agitated, saying they're still on Ramsay Street - but Piper explains she means why he left the street originally. Doug doesn't understand at all, and gets up to walk away, calling the whole thing 'nonsense'.
PIPER: Pop, one more question, then we'll wrap up. This will only take a minute.
DOUG: No more, Ned!
PIPER: I'm Piper, Pop - not Ned. (We/you? - inaudible) don't even talk to him anymore.
DOUG: I didn't call you Ned!
PIPER: Yeah, you did.
DOUG: Oh, that's enough!
Frustrated, Doug pushes Piper away, then walks off. She falls to the floor, hurting her arm.
Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe, Kyle and Amy are all gathered around Sheila's hospital bed, playing cards for crisps. Kyle and Xanthe tease one another, as he says she'll be crying when he wins the salt and vinegar.
XANTHE: You should know that Cannings are made of tough stuff.
KYLE: I do know that. Because I'm the toughest Canning.
But the consensus is that Sheila's the toughest Canning - and she clips Kyle round the ear to get him to deal the cards! We're left to surmise from the family's happy banter that Xanthe has decided to move back in, though it isn't stated explicitly.
No 26
Josh is concerned to find Piper nursing a bruised wrist. She claims it was an accident, but when she explains the full story, Josh is concerned - and feels bad for leaving them alone.
PIPER: I don't understand. He's not an aggressive person.
JOSH: No, of course not. It's just the disease.
Piper begs Josh not to tell Brad about this; she doesn't want to be responsible for Doug being sent to a home. Josh wonders if that might actually be the best thing, pointing out that Doug's already left Susan for dead and tried to kiss Lauren, as well as hurting Piper. But Piper continues to beg Josh to keep quiet.
The Waterhole
Sonya is talking to Steph, who's serving at the bar. Steph's convinced that Max and Philippa are manipulating Charlie into wanting nothing to do with her. Sonya points out that Philippa set up the video call today, but Steph thinks it was just meant to be a goodbye.
Steph's also upset that Charlie didn't thank her for the present she sent - but Sonya reveals it got returned in the post, and shows Steph the parcel, suggesting she must have got the address wrong. However, this only serves to convince Steph that Max and Philippa must have sent it back unopened on purpose.
STEPH: Maybe Charlie genuinely doesn't want a bar of me.
SONYA: No, take it from me - no kid sends back presents.
STEPH: No. I had my chance with my boy, and - maybe he really doesn't want me in his life.
Sonya tries to talk Steph round, but Steph is convinced Charlie didn't even want to speak to her. Upset, Steph grabs her jacket and walks out of the bar.
Lassiter's Complex
Sonya has followed Steph out of the pub, only to see Steph get on her motorbike and speed away. Sonya looks worried.
Unmissable Drama
- Lauren tells Brad that Piper and Josh have something to say, but Piper tells her to butt out
- Nene admits to Karl that she's kept something from Amy, as she's sure she'll be disappointed in her
- Mark encourages Steph not to give up
- Paul opens the motel door and is concerned by who he sees, asking them what they want