Previously
- Elly sleeps with Shaun, not knowing who he is
- Elly tells Susan that she's not going to let Finn and his brother control her life
- After being asked about cheating in a job interview, Elly has a full- on meltdown
- Elly asks Dipi to do a tarot reading for her; Dipi warns the news may not be what she wants to hear
- Shaun tries to persuade Finn to plead not guilty, now that the physical evidence has been torched
- Sheila pours a jug of water on Imogen for her defence of Finn; we hear Sheila say he's a nutcase
- Imogen tells Finn she won't represent him if he enters a not- guilty plea
- But Finn is terrified of going to jail for crimes he can't remember, and wavers over his plea
- Someone leaves a pig's head in a box for Imogen on Hermione; she opens it and screams
No 22
Imogen is reporting the pig's head incident to Mark. Ned thinks it must be connected to Finn's case; and Imogen can't think of any other reason someone would be out to get her. Terese comes in; Mark asks Imogen for a list of names of people who have given her a hard time about representing Finn, but she's unwilling for them all to be questioned as it will stoke up even more bad feeling.
Terese intervenes, saying Imogen's still in shock; they can draw up a list for Mark tomorrow. Mark agrees, and leaves them to it.
No 30
Yashvi is peeking out of the blinds to see if she can spot whoever left the pig's head in the box making a return visit. Shane doubts they will be back.
YASHVI: Don't you know anything, Dad? Psychos sometimes return to the scene of the crime to see the effects of their handiwork.
Dipi tells them to stop talking about it; Kirsha will have nightmares if she hears them. But Kirsha is Not In This Episode™, so there's no danger of that - and Yashvi carries on regardless, asking Shane who he thinks did it. He says a lot of people have it in for Finn.
YASHVI: Yeah, like all the parents at school whose kids he tried to murder!
No 26
Gary and Kyle are talking about the pig's head, too, and wondering how the culprit got it there without anyone noticing.
KYLE: Yeah, it's not like you can hide a Schweinekopf up your jumper!
Sheila is cleaning up after dinner nearby, looking sheepish. Gary doesn't think Imogen deserved it, but the fact she's representing Finn does make his blood boil. Kyle asks if there's any chance Finn will escape prison; Sheila points out that there's less evidence against him now, because of the fire, so he might change his plea. They debate whether Imogen might be encouraging him to do that.
Sheila seems disturbed by the conversation and changes the subject, telling them to go into the other room so she can sort out dessert.
No 24
Elly is on the couch when Mark comes in. They talk about the pig's head too, which Elly thinks is 'like something out of The Sopranos'. They agree that Finn is causing lots of tension in the community - not least between Bea and Susan, who need to submit their victim impact statements tomorrow. Elly tells Mark she submitted hers weeks ago; she just wanted it out of her life.
Mark asks how Elly's job interview went; she says she blew it, but doesn't fully explain. Mark offers to run her a bath, but Elly is due at Dipi's for her tarot reading. With his tongue slightly in cheek, Mark tells Elly not to let Dipi give away too much about their baby's future - he doesn't want to know the gender, for example! Elly promises to make sure she doesn't.
No 30
Dipi is doing Elly's tarot reading, after Elly confirms she definitely wants to go ahead.
DIPI: First, your current situation. Okay - the Ten of Cups usually indicates a happy home. But in this case, the card is reversed. Don't worry, though - the rest of the cards could change everything. And it probably represents the disconnect you're feeling from your loved ones at the moment.
Dipi next turns over The Empress.
DIPI: So, she symbolises creativity, abundance and fertility. We both know what that means for you! It is your problem card, though - so it could mean you're focusing too much on the baby and neglecting other areas of your life.
The next card represents the outcome. It's The Tower. Dramatic pause.
ELLY: What does that mean - The Tower? Dipi - Dipi, what does The Tower mean?
DIPI: You know, I just don't think we mixed these up enough.
ELLY: Come on, Dipi, please!
DIPI: No, let's try it again.
But Elly insists on an explanation.
DIPI: Okay. It generally signifies impending danger, and sometimes a crisis. But, you know, it can also indicate a change in circumstances, and a new baby is definitely that. It's fine. Don't stress.
Elly makes excuses to leave, saying she probably shouldn't have leapt into this. Elly stumbles as she gets up; Dipi asks if she's okay, and she says she just got up too quickly...
Erinsborough Hospital
Shaun is showing Finn some details of a law firm in The City™ that specialises in criminal defence, with a strong record of wins. Finn points out that Imogen isn't charging a fee; but Shaun points out that Claudia has offered to pay Finn's legal fees, so they could switch lawyers if he wanted, in order to plead not guilty. Finn wants to know why Shaun is so keen for Finn to change his plea.
SHAUN: It's all on me.
FINN: What is?
SHAUN: Everything. You being here - the things that you've done.
FINN: You weren't around for any of that.
SHAUN: I was in Colombia with you. I talked you into coming. Mum knows that now. I was the one who was freed, and I couldn't get you free.
FINN: There was nothing you could've done.
SHAUN: I could have tried harder. I could have stayed with you.
FINN: You've been carrying this with you the whole time?
SHAUN: I couldn't free you back then. But I'll do anything to keep you free now. And if that means changing your plea, then that's what I'll fight for.
No 22
Terese gets off the phone from Piper. She tells Imogen that Piper's looking at uni courses in South Australia, and that things seem to be going well with Tyler. Imogen is busy making a list of pig's head suspects for Mark.
IMOGEN: All criminal lawyers deal with threats like this; I knew that going in. But I was willing to bear the backlash, because I believe Finn doesn't deserve a custodial sentence.
TERESE: You always wanted the challenge. You still do, don't you?
IMOGEN: Of course.
TERESE: Well, then, sweetheart, you mustn't let anyone scare or bully you into backing down. And don't worry about us. You know, you are an intelligent, ethical woman - and whatever you decide to do, I know it will be for the right reason.
IMOGEN: Thanks, Mum.
No 30
Dipi admits to Shane that she upset Elly with a tarot reading last night; she was in such a state when she asked for one, that Dipi couldn't say no.
SHANE: And now you're the one in a state. Did you predict something bad?
DIPI: I didn't predict anything. I can't make sense of this spread. The most obvious interpretation is that something's up with Elly's baby (...) No (...) It's more like the baby's gonna cause trouble. I don't know. Elly came to me for guidance, and all I've done is make things more confusing for her.
Ramsay Street
Imogen and Terese come out of the house. Ned asks if Imogen's still representing Finn; she says that's up to him, but that she won't be intimidated by the pig's head business.
NED: I can respect that. And I'm sorry. I went off tap yesterday in Finn's room; you were right to kick me out.
IMOGEN: I'm just doing my job.
NED: Yeah, I get that. I'm not happy about it, but you shouldn't have to cop it from your family.
Karl turns up on his bike, and says to Imogen that he's sorry about what happened with the pig's head.
IMOGEN: Feel sorry for the pig!
KARL: Yes, yes, it's terrible. I had a pet pig called Lenny. It wasn't him - he's safely at a hobby farm.
Bemused, Imogen says she has to get to work, and drives off. Ned tells Terese it isn't too late to convince Imogen to quit before Finn's trial.
TERESE: Listen, I don't like it any more than you do. But I didn't raise a quitter.
Terese asks whether Bea might have been responsible for the pig's head.
NED: Bea would never do something this unhinged. Plus, she was with me all day yesterday. No, this has got to be someone in the wider community - some crackpot.
TERESE: Well, I hope so. If I find out that it's somebody that we're close to, I don't know what I'm gonna do.
Harold's Café
Elly is with Leo in Harold's. Dipi comes over and apologises to her for how the tarot reading went. Elly tells her not to worry about it, but Dipi says her tea's on the house to make up for it.
LEO: I never pictured you as a crystals and incense type.
ELLY: No, I'm not. Yesterday was an awful day. I needed a little bit of hope.
LEO: I get it. Some days, you just need someone to tell you everything's gonna be alright.
Elly explains that she burst into tears in the middle of her job interview; keeping the secret about not really being pregnant is turning her into a 'human stress ball'. But on the plus side, things are going well with Mark, she says; Leo suggests that she can tell him the truth in a few weeks when their marriage is more stable.
ELLY: The thought of that conversation makes me feel sick.
Leo admits that she doesn't look too well, and suggests she see a doctor for a check-up. Elly agrees.
Terese comes in; Elly asks after Piper. Terese doesn't go into detail in front of Leo, but says she's keeping herself busy. Elly says she heard about the pig's head incident and thinks it's awful; Terese says they're keeping things together as a family. Leo looks a bit shifty.
No 26
Mark turns up, and asks Gary if he can speak to Sheila. She appears, and Mark suggests they talk privately. But Sheila says Gary can stay. Mark wants to talk about the pig's head incident; Sheila plays innocent, but Mark knows differently.
MARK: Your meat supplier for The Waterhole - Vic's Butchers - you made a specialty order with them, about 4pm yesterday.
GARY: Oh, Mum, you didn't!
SHEILA: Imogen wouldn't see reason!
GARY: Oh, so you go and dump this on her doorstep?!
Sheila says she hoped it would just scare Imogen into dropping Finn as a client; she didn't mean anything sinister. But Mark wants her to come to the station, and make a formal statement.
GARY: No-one was hurt.
MARK: Not physically. But your actions were intended to cause psychological distress.
SHEILA: That's not why I did it!
MARK: Sheila, it's a form of assault.
GARY: Are you saying Mum could be charged?
MARK: That's exactly what I'm saying.
Erinsborough Hospital
Finn tells Shaun to stop blaming himself for what happened in Colombia.
SHAUN: When Mum and Dad paid my ransom, I came home to live a life of crazy privilege. You were ignored, and you were left to rot. I'm not giving up on you again.
Imogen turns up; she explains about the pig's head incident. Finn is appalled; Imogen says it's because people are worried she's going to help him plead not guilty.
FINN: But you aren't. Why don't you just tell them that you won't represent me if I do that?
IMOGEN: Because you're my client. I'm duty-bound to keep our conversations confidential.
FINN: (...) I don't want to lose you as my lawyer. Shaun, I'm sorry - this is the way it has to be.
Finn adds that his mum will pay, so Imogen won't have to work pro bono.
FINN: And... I'm not changing my plea.
IMOGEN: You've made the right choice.
Finn smiles.
Lassiter's Complex
Mark is telling Elly about Sheila being responsible for the pig's head. Elly is surprised. Mark notices that Elly's hands are cold, and suggests she might be getting sick. Elly says she's just run-down, but has booked a check-up just in case. Mark offers to come with her, but Elly says she's fine to go on her own.
Meanwhile, Ned is chatting to Yashvi; he's feeling guilty for giving Imogen such a hard time, especially after what happened with the pig's head. Yashvi assures him that all siblings give each other a hard time.
YASHVI: Okay - so you dropped the brotherly ball - it happens. As long as you're there now when she really needs you. Take it from me - family forgive a lot of crappy behaviour.
Erinsborough Hospital
Outside, Shaun apologises if he offended Imogen by trying to get Finn's plea changed, but says he had to try. Imogen understands, but she says that she now needs to know she and Finn have Shaun's full support. He assures her that they do.
IMOGEN: That means complete transparency. No more shopping around for other lawyers; no more secret trips to find character witnesses (...) From here on in, things are gonna move really quickly, and Finn's gonna need you to be focused and strong.
SHAUN: That I can't promise, but I'll try.
IMOGEN: You're a good person, Shaun. This is Finn's chance to become one too.
In a dramatically ironic moment, neither of them notice Elly in the background, asking a nurse where she can find the doctor she's booked in to see.
The Waterhole
Gary and Kyle are gently grilling Sheila about her pig's head escapades! Gary jokes that if she'd told him, he'd have helped her cover her tracks!
GARY: I must say, I'm glad to hear that someone else in the family makes bad decisions!
KYLE: Yeah, probably best not to check that scoreboard!
Sheila says she just couldn't bear the thought of Finn getting off scot-free, and Xanthe being devastated about it. She felt powerless, and the pig's head was her attempt to get the power back. Now she's worried her 'brain snap' will land her in jail. But Kyle thinks she'll only get a slap on the wrist. They head to the station to find out.
Erinsborough Police Station
Mark is filling Terese and Imogen in on what Sheila has done - just as she turns up herself, with Gary and Kyle. Terese goes full-on rage with Sheila.
TERESE: You know what? I don't even know where to start! I thought we were friends; I thought that meant something to you!
SHEILA: It does, and I feel terrible.
IMOGEN: You were there when it happened. You saw how terrified I was. And you let me believe that someone had it in for me!
SHEILA: I know. I'm really sorry, love.
IMOGEN: I can't accept a simple apology (...) I have to take a hard line to make sure my family and I are safe (...) It gave permission to a bunch of wackos out there to follow suit!
SHEILA: (...) It was just a harmless prank!
IMOGEN: That's easy for you to say, when you haven't been living in fear for the past 24 hours. I'm laying an official complaint with the police, and I hope that they charge you.
Sheila is shocked, while Kyle and Gary shake their heads in disbelief.
Erinsborough Hospital
Imogen is talking to Finn; the last of the victim impact statements are due, and she'll bring copies in for him. They will be pretty upsetting and he doesn't have to read them, but they will help him prepare; so Finn says he will.
FINN: And you can tell whoever you like I'm pleading guilty. It might be in your best interest.
Meanwhile, a tearful Elly is walking out of the hospital following her appointment...
Erinsborough Backpackers'
Elly turns up to see Leo, who quickly sees how distressed she is.
ELLY: I'm pregnant.
LEO: What? You're sure - like, for real this time?
ELLY: Yes.
LEO: Okay - that's great, isn't it? You'll have to dance around the dates a bit, but it's what you wanted to happen.
ELLY: It's not Mark's.
LEO: Are you sure?
ELLY: It can't be. We haven't slept together since before the wedding.
LEO: Okay. So if Mark's not the father of the baby, then... it has to be your one-night stand.
ELLY: Yes. My one-night stand. Oh, my god.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Bea says what Finn is going through is more important to Susan than what he did to them
- Bea asks Susan to tell her that she hasn't rewritten her victim impact statement
- Leo watches disapprovingly as Mark and Elly have an intimate moment by the lake
- Leo accuses Elly of not caring who gets hurt, as long as her secret doesn't get out
- Elly tells Mark there's something she needs to tell him
