Previously
- David and Paige tell Brad and Lauren that David's not really the father of her baby
- Brad recalls finding Paige and Jack in the shed together after the balloon accident
- Paul tells Terese it's good that they've reconnected, and invites her to sample his famous bratwurst
- Paul's sausage scam is revealed as Terese realises Lauren made them, and declares Gary the winner
- Leo pays Bradley Satchwell to spend time with David, but he does a runner with the money
- David tells Leo that Bradley's blood group proves he isn't their father
Erinsborough Hospital
David is still with Leo outside - they're discussing how David got the wrong impression from their mum that Bradley was their father, due to how she reacted.
LEO: Bradley may not be our dad, but he obviously meant something to her.
DAVID: Nothing good.
David's ready to write it all off as a huge disappointment, but Leo reminds him they've made progress, by eliminating a possibility.
DAVID: And there's still, what - only twelve million other men in Australia?
LEO: Think about it this way. At least now we know we're not genetically destined to be homeless bums.
DAVID: I've seen you first thing in the morning. I wouldn't be so sure.
LEO: Yeah, if you made a decent coffee I'd be fine!
David thanks Leo for bringing Bradley in, and offers to reimburse him for some of the money.
LEO: Don't be stupid. Look, it's important to you, so it's important to me too. I'm sorry he wasn't the one.
DAVID: Yeah. Me too.
Inside the hospital, Paige is coming out of an anomaly scan with Brad - all seems healthy with the baby. They run into Jack, who introduces them to Bishop Green. The bishop is apologetic towards Brad for all the council business over Blaze Outreach, but Brad is confident Blaze will find a new home eventually. Jack also mentions to the bishop that Paige is having a baby.
Jack explains that Bishop Green is in the parish to oversee the building of transitional accommodation for refugees, which the church is funding.
BRAD: That is big news.
JACK: Yeah. It's gonna be my little baby.
PAIGE: ...
The bishop says that the parish is lucky to have a man like Jack at the helm - it's been his hard work and commitment which resulted in the funding decision. There's palpable tension between Jack and Paige, which isn't lost on the bishop. He and Jack go on their way.
PAIGE: Well that couldn't have been any more awkward!
Brad offers to buy Paige brunch, but she decides to go for a walk instead.
The Waterhole
Gary is cleaning the floor when Terese comes in - their unresolved sexual tension appearing to be at peak strength again. They briefly exchange awkward pleasantries, and Sheila observes with interest from the bar. As Gary walks past, Sheila remarks that someone is turning heads this morning...
Terese joins Jasmine Udagawa for a meeting. Jasmine is concerned as she knows Paul's ultimate ambition is to get Lassiter's back. Terese says she knows this, and promises to keep her eye on the ball. But she has something else she wants to 'flag' with Jasmine.
TERESE: The other day, your grandfather seemed oddly rattled at the name of a local businessman, Leo Tanaka.
JASMINE: I remember.
TERESE: Is there an issue I need to know about?
JASMINE: To be honest, I'm not sure. Although the name Tanaka does ring a bell.
Terese explains Leo runs the backpackers', but it's not a competitive threat to Lassiter's. Jasmine says she'll look into it, and that Terese should focus on Robinson's and the Flame Tree.
Erinsborough Hospital
David runs into Brad outside. He tells David that the scan went smoothly, and David apologises for his deception of pretending to be the baby's father. He admits he quite liked having a father-in-law, and Brad says he was looking forward to having David around more too, with Ned moving away.
David fills in Brad on his own daddy latest. Brad says he's sure David will find his father eventually, and that he'll be proud of the man David's become. Brad says David's been a great friend to Paige, and he's sure she'd appreciate having another uncle around for the baby. David seems to like the idea of that.
The Church
Jack and Bishop Green are talking about the refugee housing project. Jack seems distracted, and admits to the bishop he has some things on his mind. The bishop admits he sensed tension between Jack and Paige.
JACK: Last year I spoke to you about a transgression that occurred between myself and a woman.
BISHOP GREEN: Mm-hm. That was her?
JACK: Yeah.
BISHOP GREEN: And now she's pregnant?
JACK: She said it's not my child - that the man is married.
BISHOP GREEN: And you believe her?
JACK: I don't know. Sometimes I wonder.
Bishop Green suggests Jack take Paige's word for it that he is not the father.
BISHOP GREEN: We're taken into troubled waters not to drown us, but to cleanse us. You've gone through your trial with Paige; now it's your chance to use your renewed faith to do something positive. Concentrate on what you can affect, and let God guide Paige.
The Waterhole
Paul turns up, and Terese is instantly tense, knowing that Jasmine is still lingering around - she clearly doesn't want her to see her being on good terms with Paul. Paul is keen to get Terese on board to help him devisse a new breakfast offering at the Flame Tree, to help steal Leo's own breakfast customers from the backpackers'.
Paul suggests a strategy dinner, but Terese declines.
TERESE: Look Paul, I've enjoyed our alliance - I really have. But I just think it's time that we focus on our own businesses from now on. We're better as rivals than allies anyway.
PAUL: So what brought this on?
TERESE: Well, all of the time we've spent together - you know, focusing on bringing down the backpackers' - I just think that we've forgotten that we're actually competitors too.
PAUL: Alright. Well in that case, I'll go back to destroying your business. How's that?
But Paul is clearly disappointed as he walks away, and so is Terese.
Lassiter's Lake
David and Leo are having lunch. Leo says that Amy has been trying to convince him not to give up on finding their father - and he adds that he's happy to help if David wants to keep searching.
DAVID: Thanks, but I think I'm done.
David stays he feels stable now, with his job, friends and Leo.
DAVID: It kills me to say it, but I think you've been right all these years. It's better to just leave it.
LEO: It might be hard to believe, but I can be wrong occasionally. Very occasionally.
DAVID: Not in this case. I don't want to put myself through it again.
LEO: Okay. Fair enough - search over.
But Leo looks concerned as David walks away.
The Waterhole
Terese is working when Gary shows up and makes her a possibly suggestive offer of doing some 'overtime, pro bono'. She doesn't pick up on it, and admits she's upset that Jasmine has asked her to try to bring down Paul's business, given they've had a better relationship lately. Gary makes sympathetic noises but is obviously disappointed her mind's on Paul.
TERESE: Have you got anything in your kit to help me sort out this mess?
GARY: Well, actually, there is one thing. A casual dinner, tonight? To take your mind off it?
TERESE: ... Yes! I think that would work!
Gary immediately goes to tell Sheila that he needs the kitchen at home tonight, to prepare a fancy dinner for Terese. Sheila queries whether Gary's rushing into it, reminding him he's on the rebound from Brooke.
SHEILA: I have seen you heartbroken and I hate it. All that singing of Bon Jovi's 'Always' in the bathtub.
GARY: I won't get hurt this time. I know the signals.
SHEILA: You didn't with Tracey Fitzgibbon! Remember when you got yourself all spiffed up to take her to the dragstrip? By the time you got to her house, she was doing stripping of her own with Timmy McMullan!
But Gary says that was over 20 years ago, and assures Sheila that Terese is 'hot to trot'. Sheila doesn't look convinced.
Harold's Café
Jack asks Paige if she's okay following her hospital appointment. She says it was just some scans. Lauren earwigs on their conversation from the counter.
PAIGE: Hey, listen - what are you doing this afternoon?
JACK: I've got lunch with the bishop, and then I'm taking confession. Why's that?
Paige looks conflicted, then eventually says...
PAIGE: No reason. Just checking.
Jack is confused, but accepts this and leaves. Once he's gone, Lauren admits that Paige came across as pretty strange in their conversation.
PAIGE: Mum, I know I have to tell him about the baby. I have literally practiced what I'm gonna say to him, like, a million times. And every time I see his face, I choke. How am I supposed to look him in the eye, and tell him what I need to tell him?
LAUREN: Well, darling, I don't really think you have a choice, do you? Unless...
Lauren has an idea.
LAUREN: Well, you told him how you felt once during confession, right? I mean, maybe you could try that again? You wouldn't have to look at him in the face - you could just speak your mind while he listens.
PAIGE: Mum, you know that's completely nuts.
LAUREN: I know, but have you got a better idea?
The Waterhole
A rattled-looking Jasmine comes in to talk to Terese. She quickly tells Terese to forget what she said earlier about concentrating on bringing down Paul; that's no longer their priority.
JASMINE: There are bigger issues to concern yourself with now. I've looked further into competitors in the local region, and I'd like you to refocus on Leo Tanaka.
TERESE: But I told you the backpackers' wasn't affecting us, and you agreed!
JASMINE: Circumstances have changed. Lassiter's would be best served if Leo Tanaka was no longer in its orbit.
TERESE: Okay, well what do you want now?
JASMINE: A strategy to drive Leo and his business out of Erinsborough.
TERESE: Look, I can go for the backpackers'. But to drive Leo out of town?
JASMINE: I'm sure you'll think of something effective.
Jasmine walks out, and Terese immediately goes to text Paul. 'Any chance of renewing old alliances?' she asks.
Lassiter's Complex
Aaron is preening himself in the selfie camera on his phone, to try and stick his hair down! David approaches.
DAVID: It looks fine!
AARON: Thanks. I've had this weird cockatoo thing going on all day.
Aaron says he's sorry for how things turned out with Bradley, but David thanks him for his help anyway - calling him a 'legend'. Aaron thinks David is more of a legend, for what he was going to do for Paige, pretending to be her baby's father.
AARON: Stepping up when it's not even your baby - that's massive.
DAVID: It was as much for me as it was for her. It gave me a chance to play this role that I probably wouldn't be able to play in real life.
AARON: David - you know that, regardless of anything else, you can still have a family? I mean, I hope to one day.
DAVID: ... So you were heading somewhere?
AARON: No, there's no rush.
DAVID: No, I should let you go.
AARON: No, I'll let you go.
DAVID: No, you go.
AARON: No, you go!
DAVID: You go!
They laugh awkwardly.
DAVID: Thanks, though.
AARON: Yeah, right.
DAVID: And good luck. Your hair looks great.
AARON: Thanks.
Aaron looks wistful as David leaves.
The Waterhole
Leo is telling Amy about how David has decided not to look for their father. He admits it doesn't feel quite right. Amy suggests she and Leo keep searching anyway.
LEO: No way. Uh-uh.
AMY: Why not?
LEO: This has always been David's thing.
AMY: Well he obviously has reached his limit.
LEO: Even if I were to take over the search, I still wouldn't have a clue where to start.
AMY: You did a pretty good job figuring out my exact dress size when you were gonna take me to the opera.
LEO: Well, I do have a good eye for certain details!
Amy says Leo's perfectly capable of searching for the boys' father, so why not give it a shot, for David?
The Church
Paige walks towards the building, and watches from a distance as Jack goes inside. She looks upset.
Indoors, Jack admits to Bishop Green that he could tell Paige wanted to say something to him in Harold's before, but couldn't.
JACK: I just can't help but wonder if it was something to do with the baby.
BISHOP GREEN: Jack, you're purely speculating.
JACK: You weren't there. You didn't see how she was acting... I know Paige, and I know she's holding something back.
BISHOP GREEN: Or were you just projecting your own guilt onto her?
No 22
On the patio, Terese fills in Paul on Jasmine's u-turn, and insistence that she go after Leo. Terese doesn't know why, but says she did get a sense of history between Leo and Mr Udagawa.
PAUL: Whatever the details, it's just nice to have a common enemy again.
As they raise their glasses, Gary turns up, to ask what time Terese is coming round for dinner. Neither man is pleased to see the other, and Terese makes matters worse by saying she forgot about his invitation - and now she has to have a strategy meeting with Paul.
PAUL: We've got an awful lot to get through. Could take all night.
Gary's surprised, as he thought they weren't working together anymore, but Paul says they now have a big project to tackle. Paul goes to show a disappointed Gary out, as Terese mimes 'sorry' to him. As the men are walking away...
GARY: So this is just a work thing?
PAUL: We're both adults. Who's to say we can't mix business with pleasure?
GARY: Of course.
PAUL: Well - you enjoy your dinner. For one.
The Church
Paige has come to the confession booth, as per Lauren's advice - assuming Jack is behind the screen.
PAIGE: I know I've gone about this the wrong way. And I have made it way more complicated than it already was. But you have to believe that I was only trying to do what was right. By everyone. But now I know that there is only one person that I need to be looking out for. And that's why I'm here. To do what's right for our child... Jack? Jack, please say something.
But it's Bishop Green's voice that replies!
BISHOP GREEN: Father Callahan has taken some time for personal reflection. I'm certain he would commend your courage, as I do. You know, Jack has an opportunity to do a lot of good for this community. I'd like him to be able to carry on that work.
PAIGE: So would I!
BISHOP GREEN: I'm happy to hear you say that - because a disruption to his vocation would jeopardise everything.
PAIGE: So what are you saying?
BISHOP GREEN: Jack has made a choice - to dedicate his life to working with people who need him. I hope you respect that.
PAIGE: Are you telling me that I shouldn't tell him that he's the father of my child?!
BISHOP GREEN: I'm saying there's a greater good. Let your child find a loving family in you. And let Jack be what his community needs him to be.
Paige looks conflicted.
Later on, Bishop Green is in Jack's office. Jack thanks him for taking his place in confession, as he wasn't in the ideal state.
BISHOP GREEN: I'm glad I did. I spoke to a friend of yours. A single mother.
JACK: ...
BISHOP GREEN: I know you've been worrying over this, but you needn't be. I will never break the seal of confession, but I believe it's important to put your mind at ease - so you can concentrate on your parish.
JACK: So I'm definitely not the father?
BISHOP GREEN: You didn't hear it from me.
Unmissable Neighbours
- Outside the church, Paige watches Jack sadly
- Lauren tells Brad that while she wishes Paige could be honest, it's not their call to make
- Piper tells Tyler she's worried about what 'they' have got planned for her
- A previously unseen school pupil asks Piper if she's Piper. She says 'yes, why?'
- 'Dee' tells Susan that the more time she spends with Toadie, the more she realises what she's lost
- Susan tells Toadie that there's more going on than he realises