UK Air Date: 30th November 2005
Writer: Margaret Wilson
Director: Mark Piper
Cat No: HAW5-113
Can Ric save Matilda before it’s too late? Diesel’s threat leaves Sally shaken. Jesse suspects that Josie has feelings for Scott.
Extended Summary
Matilda runs frantically through the bush, chased by Terry. Exhausted, she ducks down into some bushes, hiding, wiping away her tears. Scott, Martha, Jesse, Peter and the other searchers are out. Peter’s in charge and Scott is in a foul mood with everyone. Jesse pulls him up – he knows Scott’s worried about Matilda but he doesn’t have the right to bite people’s heads off. Jesse asks if it’s anything to do with Hayley and Scott denies it – but his reaction is so strong that Jesse thinks he might be right.
Matilda sprints out of the thick scrub onto a main road. There are no cars, but she reaches a phone booth and jumps inside… She starts to dial home, then stops and dials another number.
Ric answers his mobile phone and is shocked to hear Matilda on the other end! Matilda’s frantic and panicky as she tells Ric she’s being chased. Ric tells her to stay where she is – they’re on their way! Martha pulls the car over by the phone booth and Ric calls out for Matilda. There’s a noise in the dense scrub nearby, as Matilda appears, a little cut and scratched up, but in one piece. Ric rushes over to her and they hug. Cassie watches the closeness between them. Beth, Robbie, Henry and Tasha rush into the hospital and Cassie explains Matilda is being treated. Immensely relieved, Beth turns to Ric, wondering why Matilda called him. Ric shrugs – he doesn’t know… Cassie takes this in curious about the same thing. Beth holds Matilda tight, as she cries in her arms, telling Beth she’s sorry. She’s been so stupid. They’re interrupted by the arrival of Peter, who comes in saying that they no longer have to worry about Terry Rawlings, they’ve got him. It turns out his daughter died years ago and he never got over it… even lost his wife as a result. Evidently, as Matilda was the same age he saw her as some kind of replacement
Hayley catches up with Scott, expressing her relief over Matilda, but Scott’s cold towards her. She’s sorry it has to be this way but until Scott can prove to her that he is handling things – maybe a break is what they need. Scott looks up at Hayley and says – you done? Hayley just nods and Scott moves off. Hayley can’t believe things have turned out like this…
Diesel makes one last attempt to talk Sally around – if she would just tell him the truth- that she loves him, he’ll drop all the allegations. But Sally won’t say the words Diesel wants to hear. And she thinks he’s deluded if he really thinks she felt that way. Dark, Diesel walks off.
Ric comes in to say goodbye to Matilda. As he leans in to kiss her goodbye on the cheek, she happens to turn her head a little – and their lips brush. Their eyes meet for a second then they pull away, both trying to ignore the awkward moment.
Leah’s finally decided on a dress and the girls are pleased! That’s until, her mum Helen, arrives denouncing her dress of choice. Leah’s bites her tongue already – batten down the hatches, with her mum in town – Leah’s wedding plans are in for a bumpy ride!
Diesel breaks in to the Summer Bay House with Sally’s necklace – the one that he stole. He’s about to leave when Ric and Cassie arrive home. Diesel panics and rushes upstairs… just avoiding being seen by Sally, who comes in the front door. Ric and Cassie go out and thinking she’s alone in the house, Sally spots the washing and carries it upstairs… to where Diesel is hiding!
Guest Cast
HELEN POULOS (PETA TOPPANO)
PETER BAKER (NICHOLAS BISHOP)
JEAN-PIERRE (HUBERT LAPACZ)
Characters
Arrivals and Departures
HENRY HUNTER (TOBI ATKINS)
Final episode. Left the Bay to join a tap dancing school.
Trivia
Terry Rawlings is revealed to have had a daughter similar to Matilda Hunter who died 15 years ago.