Recap
- David is unhappy that Paul got Aaron involved with stolen goods.
- Harlow isn't happy with Paul either.
- Pierce makes an offer to Aaron to buy Paul out of The Shed.
- Parents are calling for Susan's resignation
- Elly is sentenced to prison for three years
- Claudia slips a back- hander to Elly's judge
- Elly decides to take Aster to jail with her
Jail
Elly is all dressed in blue and being led to her cell, accompanied by morose music. The door closes behind her and Elly looks round fearfully at her bed and the toilet.
Suddenly she hears a voice.
CELLMATE: First timer?
ELLY: What's going on, I'm meant to have my own room.
CELLMATE: Fat chance, we're chokkas. What are you in for?
Elly doesn't reply and sits down on her bed. She eventually tells her cellmate that she's in for involuntary manslaughter.
ELLY: But I didn't do it.
CELLMATE:(scoffs) Aggravated assault and...me neither!
Lassiter's
Paul and Terese are talking about Elly when they see David, Aaron and Harlow. None of them can believe that she has been jailed.
David and Aaron have been to another foster care meeting which went well - they start their training next week. David tetchily tells Paul to keep his nose out.
No.28
Bea and Karl are packing Elly's stuff.
KARL: Three years! It's ridiculous!
Bea is worried about Aster going to jail as well. Toadie comes in having spoken to the law authorities, and they are mystified why the Judge didn't give Elly a suspended sentence. Karl and Bea doesn't think Aster should go to prison but Susan is all for it as Aster is being breastfed.
SUSAN: It's not your decision, Karl, it's Elly's!
BEA: Are there any other babies in this prison?
TOADIE: There could be. Some of the inmates are mothers and they can have their kids in there until they reach school age. Though not all of them are still in contact with their kids. I can think of one in particular.
Jail
Elly is still looking pretty shell-shocked when a familiar voice comes to the door.
ANDREA: Ah, Elly. Elly Conway! I've been following your case in the news, but I didn't expect to see you in here. It's a nice surprise! ...Out!
Elly moves to leave, but Andrea is actually talking to Elly's cellmate.
CELLMATE: I'm just sitting here.
ANDREA:(laughs) You're going to make me repeat myself.
The woman, who is twice Andrea's size, huffs and leaves.
ELLY: What do you want?
ANDREA: I want to hear the story. I mean, you're supposed to be a nice girl!
ELLY: I didn't do it.
ANDREA: Yeah, that's what they always say. Anyway, you getting along with Patrice?
ELLY: No...no.
ANDREA: No, she's a pit-bull isn't she. But, don't worry. Like all dogs, she can be trained.
ELLY: Yeah, I just want to keep to myself.
ANDREA: Ah. Now, that's a mistake. It's a different world in here. You're not going to last two minutes on your own.
ELLY: That's easy for you to say, you've got your mum in here, I've got no-one.
ANDREA: Ah, she's in a different section. Psych ward. It's probably for the best. Look, I know I'm not your favourite person, I don't blame you for that, seriously. But it's hard in here. You're going to need to be harder - or you're going to need to get in with someone who is. Like me. So...if you need a friend.
Elly just looks at her.
Ramsay Street
Sheila is trying to attract Gary the pigeon with some bird seed when she sees the Kennedys coming out of No.28 with Elly's stuff.
Sheila goes over to commiserate about Elly.
SHEILA: She deserves a medal, not a prison sentence!
KARL: Sheila, please, not now.
SHEILA:(to Susan) Off to the prison are we? Make sure you don't bring any murderers back to the street(!)
Just then, Claudia arrives.
CLAUDIA: I can't let you take Aster to jail, she's just a baby!
Karl thinks they should at least talk about it, but Susan is insistent that they respect Elly's decision.
Prison
The Kennedys, Bea and Toadie have arrived with Aster. Elly is cuddling her.
TOADIE: I am so sorry, I promise I am pushing it through as fast as I can.
ELLY: You just have to get me out of here!
Elly can't understand why she's got a cellmate because she's got a baby with her. Bea suggests that they take Aster home until it's sorted.
ELLY: No, no, Aster is safe here with me. We'll make do until Toadie sorts this out.
Er...how?!
Elly tells them about Andrea being friendly to her and Toadie warns her to be careful.
Cell
Elly returns to her cell to find Andra sitting on her bed. She's transfixed by Aster.
ELLY: Don't touch her.
ANDREA: Fussy, is she? It's a big move, bringing a baby in here. But I totally get it. It hurts more than anything being away from your kids.
ELLY: Yeah, we need to rest.
ANDREA: Good luck with that. Everyone's going to want to come and meet her.
ELLY: She's not the only baby in here.
ANDREA: She is in this section. It'll be fine. Just, a lot of mums who haven't seen their kids in years, you know, she can really set them off.
ELLY: Yeah, well we're not looking for attention.
ANDREA: Let's hope she's not a cryer then, eh! Beauty sleep's a pretty big thing here. There was this woman, two cells down...Debbie...she used to snore like a chainsaw. Until your friend Patrice got involved. I don't know what she did, but Debbie doesn't make a peep these days.
ELLY: Yeah, if you're trying to scare me, it won't work.
ANDREA: No, I'm just saying. It can me tough in here.
ELLY: Mmm. And I can handle it.
ANDREA: Mmm. Or you could let me handle it. People seem to respect me in here.
ELLY: I appreciate the concern, we don't need friends, as I said, we need rest.
Aster starts to cry.
ANDREA: If you change your mind...
Coffee Shop
The Kennedys and Bea are having a cup of coffee when Claudia comes over. She's appalled to hear that ELly is being held in a shared cell with Aster. Bea is more worried about Andrea. Claudia is very worried (and with good reason!)
They decide to head off, leaving Claudia at the table.
When they've gone, Claudia gets straight on the phone to Samantha.
CLAUDIA: Samantha? It's about Aster. I have an idea, but we're going to have to move fast.
School
Harlow is stressed and rings Terese. Apparently she's left her Psych assignment on the table at home. Paul offers to pick it up and take it to the school. Harlow reluctantly agrees.
Waterhole
Claudia runs in to Paul as he's leaving. She wants to talk to him about business opportunities while she's in Australia. Also, there's something else she wants to discuss. Paul looks at her curiously.
No.28
Susan is going in to school because Angela is making a complaint about her. Karl isn't happy and says that Susan needs to focus on her health. He's worried about the pressure she's under.
SUSAN: The only pressure, right now, is this conversation.
Karl rolls his eyes and says he's trying to help. Susan stomps off saying not every decision she makes is wrong.
Jail (Common Room)
Elly comes in with Aster in a baby chair. She goes to sit on her own and talks a bit to the warder.
Just then, there's an alert. The warder goes out and Patrice rushes in, barracading the door with a few other inmates. Apparently there's a riot going on.
School
Susan arrives at the school and is clearly not feeling well. He heart is beating fast.
Harlow knocks on the car window and tells her she's very sorry about Elly.
Susan continues to look very unwell and is breathing fast.
Outside the Law Office
Toadie and Bea are talking about the case. He promises he'll sort it.
Aaron and David come over and ask Bea how Elly is. Bea tells them that Elly should never have pleaded guilty. They invite Bea over for dinner, but she wants to stay with Karl and Susan at the moment.
School
Susan is still sitting in the car feeling unwell. Paul comes by (with Harlow's assignment) and sees that she's in distress. She begs him not to tell Karl. She's so distressed, Paul decides to take her straight home.
Jail (Common Room)
Patrice tries to take Aster off Elly. Andrea comes in and insists that she gives the baby back, shouting at Patrice to back off.
Elly cowers in a corner with Aster.
ANDREA: It's alright, I've got you. I've got your back.
Waterhole
Harlow is ranting that Paul didn't show with her assignment, so now she's going to lose 10% for giving it in late. Terese is about to tell her what happened with Susan but just then Paul comes in. He apologises that something came up earlier so he was a bit late. Harlow calls him selfish and storms off.
When he's gone, Paul is telling Terese about Susan's meltdown and unfortunately Claudia overhears.
Jail (cell)
Elly is having trouble settling Aster. Andrea tells her she needs to lower her stress levels as Aster is picking up on it.
ELLY: Thank you...for looking out for us.
Elly isn't sure how she and Aster can sleep in the same room as Patrice. Andrea suggests that she could do a swap with Patrice. Elly needs to think about Aster's safety, and Andrea could protect them.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Roxy tells Ned that she put her foot in it with Kyle
- Chloe wonders if the prospective new owners of the island want to turn it into a horror show.
- Claudia tells Susan that she wants to make sure that Elly and Aster are safe.
- Elly tells Toadie that Andrea wants a favour. She wants to see Toadie.