Previously
- Jacka sabotages the hot air balloon
- Karl is feeling a tad bleary today
- The hot air balloon takes off, with Lauren, Elly, Piper, Paige and (secretly) Regan on board
- Regan reveals herself to Elly, saying she needed to speak to her
- The balloon's burners go out, and the occupants realise they're going to crash
- Paige jumps overboard into a nearby lake
- The balloon crashes, and Mark, Karl, Ben and Brad are first on the scene
- Piper appears the least seriously injured, while Lauren and Elly are in a bad way
- Regan has a terrible head injury; Karl decides he needs a power drill to save her
- Jack finds the scarf Paige was wearing at the shore of the lake, and shouts her name
Near the Lake
Jack sees Paige lying on the shore of the lake, and rushes towards her.
The titles roll.
When we rejoin our heroes, we find Paige is conscious but struggling to speak. She's shivering with cold, so Jack picks her up and begins carrying her inland.
Balloon Crash Site
Karl, who's still looking a bit worse for wear, is trying to get hold of a neurosurgeon on the phone. No-one's available, so he asks to be called back. Ben has brought back a power drill and the other requested items from Amy's ute.
BEN: You're gonna drill into her head, aren't you?
KARL: It's the only way to release the pressure, mate.
Karl would rather have a neurosurgeon to talk him through it, but he says he's 'read enough' to do it alone. Regan is still twitching, and Ben wonders if they should wait for the ambulance or a call-back. But Karl insists there's no time.
KARL: I would not do this unless it's absolutely essential. She is about to die. Just move away if you don't want to watch.
Ben is visibly upset as Karl prepares the drill...
Near the Lake
Jack is running through the trees, still carrying Paige. She's still conscious but shivering, and not very responsive.
JACK: Don't you fade out on me, Paige.
Balloon Crash Site
Not far from Karl, Ben and Regan, Brad is still tending to a barely conscious Lauren. Piper comes over and reports that the hot air balloon crew (who are Not In This Episode™) are okay. Suddenly, Lauren cries out, very distressed.
LAUREN: Paige! Paige! Paige!
Brad says Jack's gone to look for her, and that he'll go too once the ambulance arrives.
Nearby, Mark is tending to Elly, who is also conscious but in a lot of pain. She suddenly passes out, and Mark can't revive her - so he's force to begin performing CPR. Piper, Brad and Lauren watch, distressed, as the ambulance (finally) arrives.
Near the Lake
Still carrying Paige, Jack comes across a shed in the forest, and takes her inside to warm up. She's still shivering terribly, so he helps her take off her wet clothes, stripping her down to her undies and then wrapping her in a dry blanket. She begins to feel better...
Power Street
The police are clearing up following Steph's bike accident. Paul asks one of the police officers, Constable Miranda Corby, what happened. She reveals that a female motorcyclist has been taken to hospital.
CONSTABLE: It appears that the driver swerved to avoid something, but I can't give you any more information than that.
As Paul walks away, he's concerned to find a propeller from Jimmy's drone lying by the side of the road, and puts it in his pocket. He calls Jimmy.
PAUL: It's G-Dad, mate... I'm still out looking for your drone. In the meantime, if anybody asks you anything, don't say a word, alright?
Erinsborough Hospital
Toadie arrives. He's had a call telling him Steph was in a bike accident, but the nurse on the reception desk, Eve Fisher, can't tell him any more than that the doctor's with her now. She explains that there's been a serious accident, and is preparing for an influx of casualties.
David, who is here visiting his great gran, overhears, and introduces himself to Toadie. He says he knows some of the staff, and that he'll make some enquiries about Steph's condition.
The Shed
Jack lying next to Paige, hugging her to keep her warm, and stroking her hair. He says he'll go to get help now, but Paige says she'll be well enough to come with him in five or ten minutes.
JACK: You're a strong woman, you know that?
PAIGE: No, I'm not. I was so scared up there. Not just for me, but for Mum and Pipes. And I just left them there and jumped.
JACK: You were acting on auto-pilot. That's what happens in those situations.
PAIGE (emotional): The whole thing was so terrifying. And I kept thinking about you, and you being so mad at me. And I thought of dying without us having sorted it out.
JACK: Piper sent me an audio message of you talking to Lauren. I know how sorry you are. And when Piper told me you'd jumped, I imagined the worst. And all the hurt I've put you through, and everything I've made you feel - the idea of losing you... I did the first thing that I thought would help. I prayed.
PAIGE: You prayed for me?
JACK: I prayed for me. Because I couldn't imagine a life without you. I love you, Paige.
He kisses her on the lips, and soon they kiss again. He takes off his dog collar and flings it on the floor of the shed, before descending for a proper pash.
Erinsborough Hospital
Lauren is wheeled in on a trolley, with Piper at her side. Lauren's asking for Brad, but Piper explains he's looking for Paige.
PIPER: But I'm gonna stay with you every step of the way.
Nearby, Ben waits as Karl explains to Nurse Fisher about how he used a drill to drain Regan's head injury. She's still breathing and is now in surgery. But the nurse is looking at him strangely.
KARL: I'm just so glad it's over.
NURSE FISHER: Are you alright, doctor?
KARL: Oh, yes, I'm fine, yes. Just been a big morning.
NURSE FISHER: Right (!)
When Karl asks when he'll get an update on Regan, the nurse pointedly suggests that he should go home and get some rest. But Karl says he'd rather stay. The nurse walks off a little coldly. David shows up, and congratulates Karl on saving Regan's life. Karl introduces David to Ben.
DAVID: You must be so proud.
BEN: Total respect.
But Karl doesn't look so proud...
The Shed of Sin™
Paige and Jack are now both under the blanket, and don't appear to be wearing much else. It's evident they've TTEOLARCW™ in the interim, and are cuddling in a loved-up kind of way.
PAIGE: I didn't think this was ever gonna happen. I convinced myself I was wrong to even want it.
JACK: You were only following your heart.
PAIGE: And now you're following yours?
JACK: I've loved you from the start. And not just for your beauty, but your power and your strength. And ever since I've met you, I've just wanted to have you in my arms.
PAIGE: Well, now I am. And it feels like a dream. But it's real.
They kiss again.
Erinsborough Hospital
Mark is on the phone to a colleague, who has found that there was a problem with the gas flow to the fuel cylinders on the balloon.
MARK: Well, yeah, that *does* sound suspicious.
He asks to be kept updated as the forensics process continues. Nurse Fisher passes by, and Mark asks her for an update on Elly's condition. The nurse explains Elly had a head trauma, but that Mark's CPR saved her life by restoring oxygen to the brain immediately.
Toadie turns up, and tells Mark that Steph's been asking after him. But he wasn't even aware Steph was in hospital.
We cut to Steph in one of the hospital rooms. Paul is by her bedside.
STEPH: One minute I'm on the bike, the next I'm skidding across the road.
PAUL: And you swerved to miss something?
STEPH: No, I dunno. I was - I was pretty keyed up. I don't know what happened.
PAUL: Well, do you think, maybe you hit something, or maybe something hit you?
STEPH: I dunno, Paul, why? What's with all the questions?
PAUL: Nothing. I'm just concerned, that's all.
Toadie and Mark come in, and Paul leaves them to it. Toadie goes to get a coffee, while Mark fusses over Steph.
MARK: I would ask you to get rid of that bike if I thought you were gonna listen to me. Where were you going anyway?
STEPH: To the balloon site. Jacka came to see me. He was looking for Regan; he was crazy. And then he said something about the balloon. So I just thought I had to get out there and warn everyone.
MARK: Steph, the balloon crashed.
Mark gets another phone call from forensics.
MARK: It turns out the valves on the gas cylinders were glued shut. Jacka's fingerprints are all over them.
STEPH: He sabotaged it?
MARK: Yeah. And now he's up for attempted homicide.
The Shed of Sin™
Jack is getting dressed. He suggests they head back, and Paige agrees. Jack picks up his dog collar, but puts it in his pocket rather than putting it back on. Paige smiles gently.
The pair hear Brad shouting from outside, so Jack rushes out to tell him that Paige is okay. Brad looks suspicious when he sees Paige's clothes in a pile on the floor, despite Jack's explanation of needing to keep Paige warm. Paige asks after Lauren and Piper; Brad says they're in hospital, but more concerned about Paige.
She asks for a minute to get dressed before they leave. Brad goes out, giving Jack a look as he leaves. Paige then motions for Jack to follow Brad, and he complies.
Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe and Angus arrive. Xanthe asks Ben where Piper is, while Angus asks after Elly. Ben explains that Piper's waiting with Lauren for a room to become available, and Elly is recovering in a room of her own. Angus goes to find Elly, while Ben and Xanthe go for a coffee.
Nearby, Karl is talking to Toadie, explaining the procedure he carried out on Regan with the power drill.
TOADIE: Woah, man, that is so full-on. But I suppose, you know, when someone's dying in front of you, what choice have you got, huh?
KARL: None, I guess...
TOADIE: What do you mean, 'I guess'?
KARL: You know, I wasn't at my best this morning. What if I wasn't thinking straight?
TOADIE: What do you mean?
KARL: Well, I had a fair bit to drink in that restaurant last night.
TOADIE: Well, yeah, but it wasn't a late one.
KARL: No. But I didn't sleep much, you know? Which is why I was glad that Mark drove this morning.
TOADIE: Hang on. Are you saying that you think you were still drunk when you did this operation?
KARL: No, no. Just not one hundred percent. What if I acted too rashly, did more harm than good?
TOADIE: Well, that's not true. Regan turned up at the hospital alive. You stopped the seizure. Okay, alright, maybe you weren't feeling great. But I think in situations like this, you get a massive shot of adrenaline - and bang, you are on in that moment.
KARL: Yeah. Yeah, you're probably right.
TOADIE: You did the right thing, Karl. You've got to believe that.
Karl nods, but doesn't look so sure.
Shortly afterwards, Piper is still waiting in reception with Lauren, who's still on the trolley, waiting for a bed. Piper's very upset, and explains to Toadie that Lauren has a broken ankle and a few cracked ribs, but is on painkillers for her injuries. She's relieved that Paige is okay.
PIPER: I just can't believe that Jacka did all this. It's horrific.
Tyler rushes in next, anxious as to Piper's wellbeing. They share an emotional hug, and Piper gets very teary, but she insists she only has a few bruises.
Meanwhile, Angus is sitting in Elly's room. She's asleep, but soon wakes up. Angus explains that she hit her head during the crash, and that Susan's on her way. Angus assures her that it looks like everyone from the balloon will be fine.
ELLY: And Ned? Does Ned know I'm here?
ANGUS: ... I'm not sure. But from what I've heard, he's the reason that all of this happened.
ELLY: Oh, my god.
ANGUS: But you don't need to worry about that right now. Or Ned.
He takes her hand.
ANGUS: I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.
Elly smiles at him.
In the waiting area, Tyler asks how Paige is doing. Piper says she's fine, surprisingly - a tree apparently broke her fall!
TYLER: You know, when I heard about what happened on the radio - when they said that some people had been critically injured - all I could think about was you.
They're about to hug again, but Xanthe rushes in, interrupting them - she's been frantically searching for Piper to make sure she's okay, and gives her a crushing hug!
XANTHE: It's okay, bae, I'm here now!
In reception, Karl asks Nurse Fisher if there's any news on Regan.
NURSE FISHER: Well, she made it through surgery. But there were some postoperative complications. She died five minutes ago. Now if you'll excuse me, please...
Nurse Fisher walks off, again seeming rather cold towards Karl. Karl looks worried.
Elsewhere, Lauren has finally got a hospital room - and Paige has arrived with Brad. She gives her a hug, apologising for leaping from the balloon.
PAIGE: I came off better than you, though, didn't I?
LAUREN: Well, that's beside the point!
Piper comes in, and explains that the police have doubled their search for Jacka, but can't find him. Lauren remarks that Brad isn't looking so hot; he admits he feels a bit woozy, and attributes it to the stress of the last couple of days. He's also blaming himself for the fight he had with Jacka; he's worried it triggered this whole chain of events. Piper insists Jacka's a lunatic; Brad's not to blame.
Jack arrives to check on Paige. Paige says she's been checked over by doctors, and just needs to rest and relax.
PIPER: She's so lucky.
PAIGE: In more ways than one.
Brad gets a call on FaceTime, and goes to take it outside in the reception area, suspecting it's a journo. But in fact the video call is from Ned.
NED: I heard what happened. Is everyone okay?
BRAD: More or less. But we miss you, and we want you to come home.
NED: No, I can't. Dad, I've done something - I've really messed up. Are you alone?
BRAD: What is it?
NED: No-one can hear what I'm about to tell you...
Later in the evening, Karl comes into the room where Regan was being treated, looking sombre. A silent nurse is changing the bedding. He tries to look at Regan's medical notes, but the nurse takes the pad from him. He looks at the chart on the wall, listing the patient as Regan Davis and the doctor as G. Webb. Karl looks pensive, as David comes in.
DAVID: It's probably none of my business. But since you've been so good to me, I just wanted to let you know. That nurse, the one you spoke to when you first came in...
KARL: Eve Fisher.
DAVID: I heard her talking at the nurses' station. And she was saying that, when you came in, she could smell alcohol on your breath. So she reckons that when you were operating, you might have been under the influence.
KARL: Was she just gossiping, or was she planning to do something about it?
DAVID: She said she's gonna report you.
Karl sighs.
Promo
- Paul and Jimmy look sheepish as Amy says she's heard from the police
- Susan assures Karl he's not to blame, but he says they don't know that
- David argues that Regan would've died at the scene if Karl hadn't operated
- Jacka arrives at the hospital. He's heard someone's died, and asks if it was Regan
- There's a scuffle in the hospital between Jacka and Paige