Episode 30

Australian Air Date: 26th February 1988
UK Air Date: 24th March 1989
Writer: Greg Stevens
Director: Chris Sheil

There are several surprise performances at the Variety Night. Meanwhile, Ailsa faces her critics.

RUTH ‘ROO’ STEWART (JUSTINE CLARKE)
Final episode. Left town in disgrace amid the fallout over Ailsa’s past..
‘CHICKA’ (CHRIS BENNETT)
Third appearance, last seen in #22. Played in the band on the Variety Night.
GUITARIST (CHRIS PARKINSON)
Played in the band on the Variety Night.
PIANO PLAYER (JACK THORPE)
Helped keep Celia in tune on the Variety Night.

Extended Summary

Three days have passed, Tom, Fisher and a lot of other people are organising the room for the Variety Night in a big hall. Fisher gets a small electrical shock while he is up on the ladder!

Martin, Lance and the rest of the band want Frank back in the band again especially now that Roo will be leaving for the boarding school soon. Frank agrees to come back in the band.

Floss got the job as babysitter for her grandson. She will start next week.

The band rehearse for the Variety Night. Martin wants the band to decide on playing another song on the Variety Night since he doesn’t want to sing a song that is written to be sung by a girl! Pippa asks if she can give it a try to sing in the band. Everybody is surprised!

The Variety Night starts with an introduction with Floss and Neville dressed as clowns. They make jokes and everyone is laughing.

Lynn and Carly switch seats to get Steven and Sandra to sit next to each other.

The next act is Celia Stewart as a soprano opera singer.

After that there is Alf and Tom dressed as women and they are dancing as well! Everyone thinks it is so funny.

Next up is Ailsa doing a step-dancing act. Almost everyone dislikes it because of her murdering her father. People have a hard time accepting the fact that she killed her father a long time ago.

No one applauds for Ailsa’s act but Bobby does it and then the rest of the audience clap too except Roo.

After Ailsa’s act comes the band with Pippa on vocals. They sound very good and Pippa’s singing is excellent. The first song they play is called Living in Summer Bay.

The audience think the band is very good. Roo stands against a wall and seems to be jealous.

Ola Carlsson, 1999