Previously
- Callum commenting that his parents are acting like strangers towards each other.
- Karl suggesting Toadie needs to open the lines and of communication with Sonya and Callum suggesting an email.
- Sonya receiving an email from Toadie.
- Finn declaring that Susan is off school because of her MS and he is the new Principal.
- Suspicions arising that Finn drugged Susan.
- Nell playing with Susan's dodgy pill bottle and putting it into her bag.
- Finn emotionally blackmailing Xanthe.
Number 28
Elly isn't too pleased to hear that Ben has discussed their suspicions about Finn with Xanthe as she fears the girl will tell him. Ben reminds her that Finn's already guessed they suspect him although she points out it might lead to him, if other folk also know, being extra cautions and covering up his tracks. He's determined though to find a way to prove what Finn has been doing so he can get back together with Xanthe, who he misses.
Meanwhile, Susan finishes a call to the department informing them that she's going back to work next week. Elly is jealous she's not going back too and receives a mini-wrath from her aunt as to why she's currently suspended!
Number 30
Toadie returns a cranky Nell to Sonya (toast is now to be cut into triangles, not squares if she is required to eat it!) and the pair are having a very civil conversation about the emails they've been exchanging. Also brought to #30 is Susan's dodgy pill bottle that was in Nell's bag - neither of her parents know she has it.
Ramsay Street
Terese is unsure whether Piper is ready to go back to school or not but Piper reassures her she is, plus she's roped Ben into being her personal bag slave.
Number 30
Mark arrives to see Sonya and Cal offers his condolences on the loss of Caitlin while they wait for her to come through to the livingroom. Sonya arrives and reassures Mark she is doing good and has Cal is helping her stay on the straight and narrow.
Before he left, Mark hugged Sonya and Cal remarks that the hug was weird. Sonya explains to her son about things becoming intense between them after she lost the baby. "Intense?" he says with a puzzled look on his face and Sonya nods in reply.
School
Yashvi thinks that Piper should have used her broken leg as an excuse to stay off longer when she goes to get some books out of her locker. She also mentions about being in the same economics class as Piper, so Ben fills her in about the vertical integrated teaching Finn has implemented.
BEN: He's putting kids from different years into the same class. It's a joke
PIPER: Is it really that bad?
YASHVI: Its worse, that's why it's so awesome!
"Told you," Ben tells Piper once Yashvi heads off but she's going to keep an open mind until she experiences it herself.
Meanwhile Finn is telling Trent from the Department about how they can now offer more options to the pupils with the new teaching method as there are the numbers for it. He also reassures Trent that he's trying to keep the disruption on the pupils with Susan being off to the minimum. Trent comments that if Susan doesn't feel like she can return, they have an ideal replacement ready to step up.
Number 30
Cal is struggling to get his head round what happened between his mum and Mark and thinks that he overstepped the mark. She tries to reason with him that rational thinking can go out of the window (talking about Mark) and then goes onto say (about herself) that being in survival mode means you don't always make the right decisions.
SONYA: And if anyone is an expert at that I am. I'm not mad at Mark and I don't want you to be but he only deserves wonderful things to happen to him and that's what I want for him.
CALLUM: So you don't have any feelings for him?
SONYA: No, I never did.
CALLUM: What about Mark?
SONYA: Look, I'm sure that he feels the same way.
School
Yashvi is out of her depth in the economics class as the work Mr Cheng is asking questions about hasn't been done in her old class, so he is forced to start at the very beginning again. Piper protests that the Year 12's know that stuff already and fears they won't get through the syllabus if they have to continually backtrack.
While Mr Cheng goes photocopy the notes (because the younger kids don't have the right text books), Piper is now agreeing with Ben how awful things are.
Number 28
Trent arrives to hear Susan say she will be returning to work on Monday and is surprised to hear him ask what her own 5 year plan is. That would be doing the job she loves but it doesn't seem to be washing with Trent, as he thinks she isn't fit for the job because of her MS. Susan points out that she isn't currently off with because of her MS, she had a drug in her system, "one that I didn't knowingly take," and thinks it was due to a medication mix-up but makes it clear it's unrelated to her MS. Trent somewhat backtracks and tries to say it's a friendly chat to see where her plans are.
TRENT: After all, there are worse things in the world than early retirement and Mr Kelly definitely seems more than capable of taking over down the line once you've made a decision to move on.
SUSAN: Well yes, not to stand in the way of Finn's ambitions, but I can assure you I've got plenty of good teaching years left in me.
However, literally as Susan has said those last few words, as she stands up to show Trent out, she stumbles and he thankfully stops her from falling to the floor. Trent shows genuine concern and asks if she is okay, to which Susan reassures him that she is.
Police station
Cal has come to the station to 'have a chat' with Mark and begins by telling him to leave his mum alone!
CALLUM: Look, I know that things have been bad for you, okay I get that and I am sorry, but mum is a good person, she doesn't need her life getting any more complicated than it already is.
MARK: And I wouldn't want to make it that way.
CALLUM: Then back off.
Mark reassures him that he just wants what's best for Sonya, so Cal asks, "and is that you?!" Cal wants to know if Mark has feelings for his mum and Mark's reply is a definite no, he simply "cares about her."
CALLUM: Good, keep it that way!
School
Finn is forced to come in and tell the economics class to be quiet as they're taking advantage of Mr Cheng being out of the room. Piper explains where the teacher is and why before asking Finn how long the "experiment" is going to continue for as it could affect the Year 12's VCE results. Finn replies that everyone deserves a learning opportunity, not just the Year 12's and asks that time is allowed for things to settle down and the teething problems ironed out. Piper isn't buying it but is told to get on board or face having detention.
Lassiters Complex
Over a cuppa, Susan tells Elly about the visit from Trent and thinks Finn was behind the visit too. Elly tries to reassure her aunt that regardless of what Finn says, they've got truth on their side. Susan then explains about the dizzy spell she had in front of Trent and wonders if she is ready to go back to work and if the stress is bringing on a relapse? "I can't blame the drugs for what happened today," she adds but Elly reassures her that "anyone could have lost their composure in that situation," and Trent only has doubts because Finn has planted the idea in him.
SUSAN: Yes, you're right.
ELLY: Don't let him get away with this.
SUSAN: No.
ELLY: You need to march back into school next week as planned and put that little boy back into his box!
SUSAN: (nodding) Yes!
School
Alone in his office, Finn tells Xanthe about having a run-in with Piper who does like the vertical integration classes. "That's just Piper, she has an opinion about everything," Xanthe replies before she reassures him that she's kept their conversation (about Finn liking her) quiet.
FINN: I really appreciate your support Xanthe, more than you'll ever know. It's really hard to find someone who stands by you unconditionally. Elly was never like that. Most of the time I felt like we were on the opposite sides of everything. I shouldn't bother you with all this stuff.
XANTHE: No, no, it's fine.
Xanthe then puts her hand on top of his before continuing.
XANTHE: Don't worry about Piper alright, you're a great teacher and we're all really lucky to have you.
Sonya's nursery
Callum, Shane and Toadie are lending a hand at the nursery since there is no longer a manager. Shane asks if Leo is still hassling them to sell and Toadie replies no, it appears to have gone off his radar.
Toad thanks Cal for the email advice and asks if he can try and convince Sonya to let him represent her. "I can try," Cal replies but its Sonya's decision. The lad then brings up his dad cheating and thought he'd be the last one ever to do that. Toadie agrees with him and tries to explain it after Cal asked.
TOADIE: This isn't going to make much sense but thinking Dee was back, that, that really messed me up quite a bit.
CALLUM: Dad, it shouldn't matter who the person was.
TOADIE: Yes, okay I am not making any excuses alright, there aren't any.
Cal tells him that was an almighty stuff-up! "It was," Toadie agrees and knows that he "could say sorry a million times but its actions that counts."
TOADIE: So I'm not going to let your mother down again even if she does try to push me away, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to do better.
CALLUM: Good, because you need to.
School
Yashvi has a very different take on the vertical integrated teaching (she likes it) compared to Ben and Piper who hate it. Xanthe joins in the conversation to say they need to give it more time.
PIPER: You sound like his PR girl.
XANTHE: Okay, once it's all up and running properly, I think it will be awesome.
BEN: Of course you do!
Ben literally rolls his eyes as he walks away and when Piper catches up with him, he admits it's hard to listen to Xanthe hero worship Finn. At least the pair of them are on the same wavelength, they hate the new teaching style!
Ramsay Street
Sonya bids a reluctant goodbye to Callum, but is grateful for his visit even if he was the one to "pick up the pieces."
SONYA: But I'm really glad that you did and I'm not going to let Nell down, I promise you that.
CALLUM: I know you won't. Look, you're an amazing mother just please don't forget it.
While Cal hugs his little sister goodbye, Sonya tells Toadie she's going to think about having him as her lawyer (Cal spoke to her). "I really hope you guys are able to sort out your stuff," Cal tells them both before getting into Toadie's car and heading for the airport.
Harold's Cafe
There is a mini-summit going on in the café with Piper, Ben, Tyler and Elly about the new teaching style Finn has implemented at the school. Elly vetoes Tyler's suggestion of going to the department as Finn is now their golden boy. She also doesn't want to tell the kids how to handle things because it would be unprofessional... however does suggest that bad publicity for the school wouldn't go down well with the department. "So, what are you suggesting?" Ben asks but Elly repeats that she "can't be seen to be giving you guys advice." Piper puts out the suggestion of going to the paper and saying that their VCE results are being jeopardised.
BEN: Finn wouldn't be the golden boy for long!
"I'm going to get a coffee," Elly declares and Ben now knows what their next move should be.
School
No, we haven't jumped forward in time when we cut to see Susan back in her office and restoring her belongings to her desk, taking down the ones Finn had up! She's apparently there to sorting through some paperwork in advance of her return when Trent calls in as he'd heard she was in the building. He starts their chat nicely by explaining that she's held in high-esteem by everyone in the department but continues by saying she's not fit to return after what happened during their chat earlier in the day.
SUSAN: With respect Trent, you're not a doctor, I'm perfectly able to do my job.
TRENT: Sometimes were not the best judge of our own capabilities.
He doesn't want a repeat of what happened when she had her trip to the bush with students in her care.
TRENT: We're just saying take some extra time, that's all we're asking, Mr Kelly can hold the fort here.
And seconds later, Finn enters the office and Trent explains that he and Susan were just having a chat and to confirm that he will be continuing as Acting Principal "until she can return."
SUSAN: I'm assuming you're not giving me any choice in this?
TRENT: I'm sorry but I really think this is for the best.
FINN: We're all doing our best to ensure you feel soon better Susan.
That earns Finn a scowl from Susan and he decides its best to leave the office!
Outside in the playground we see Finn leave the school and let's just say he's one happy chap with what Trent said!!!
Number 30
Sonya comes through from the bedroom to tell Nell about a playdate they are going to have with a friend from childcare. It's all very quiet and we see why, Nell is lying unconscious on the livingroom floor. Initially Sonya just seems think that Nell must be sleeping but then quickly realises it's something more and rushes towards where she is lying.
Must see Neighbours!
- Nell unconscious and Sonya frantic about why the ambulance hasn't appeared.
- Xanthe telling someone (unseen) about Finn's aneurysm as we see him start to become unsteady on his feet.
- Toadie and Sonya at the hospital.