Episode 97

Australian Air Date: 31st May 1988
UK Air Date: 27th June 1989
Writer: Dave Worthington
Director: Gaye Arnold

Steven triumphs over Samuels with a bold ultimatum. Meanwhile, Frank finds himself in a difficult situation when Nico elects himself best man.

JEFF SAMUELS (ALEX PETERSONS)
Final episode. Relented in his demands over Steven’s grueling training schedule.
HARDING (MARK KOUNNAS)
Member of the Power Pack who tried to rile Steven, but who Samuels told to shut up.

Extended Summary

Frank has got a suit on for a job interview. Martin and Lance, who are around the Fletcher’s again, try to wind him up by asking if he has another girlfriend on the side. Nico and Steven come back after their training and Nico comments on Steven winding Samuels up. Nico then mentions that he’s Frank’s best man, and that gets Lance and Martin thinking about the bucks night and how they should organise it.

Ailsa and Fisher talk about Bertram’s incapacitation and also how Fisher is now back in charge of the school again. In a school corridor, Steven is at his locker with Lynn. He accidentally knocks a paper ball out his locker and Samuels accuses him of throwing it on the floor. Steven says he doesn’t throw it and Samuels gives Steven an hour’s detention for insolence. Lynn and Steven are then later in a classroom where the rest of the class are going wild. Samuels walks into the classroom and again picks on Steven for the behaviour of the class.

Frank returns home from his job interview looking disgruntled, when he spots Nico who runs into his caravan. Nico makes up a story about there still needing to be a lot of work done around the caravan park, but Frank tells him he’s only allowed to stay here if he helped his gran with the farm. Frank then tries to talk his way out of Nico believing that he was Frank’s man by saying that he messed up with some rules and that it actually has to be Steven that’s best man. He shows Nico a wedding magazine and pretends it says that and Nico buys Frank’s story. Frank crosses his fingers, hoping that will be the end of that conundrum.

Steven stands outside Samuels’ class when Fisher walks over to him and asks why he’s not in class. Samuels walks out and tells Fisher that he’s got everything under control, before letting Steven back into the classroom.

Frank is making a phone call about a job. Nico then talks to Lance and Nico about the fact that he’s no longer Frank’s best man because Frank showed him the rule about it being the friend you’ve known the longest. Lance and Martin aren’t overly interested, but tell Nico it’s a page about wedding dresses and they grab Steven to start organising the bucks night. Nico thinks they’re winding him up again, but Lynn confirms that it’s about wedding dresses and Nico runs into the house and goes off at Frank for lying at him.

Alf and Ailsa wonder what Steven, Martin and Lance are plotting at the store. Steven tells Lance and Martin not to worry, as Steven’s best man he’s got it all planned.

Nico hides in his caravan as Frank tries to talk to him about the best man situation.

Fisher and Ailsa talk about the fact that Barbara will be coming back to Summer Bay for the wedding and what effect it will have on his standing in the community.

Frank and Steven are in their bedroom. Frank now regrets not telling Nico the truth about the best man situation straight away. The following day at school, Samuels continues to pick on Steven, but Steven stands up to him and says that it Samuels chases him out the school, he will do so in a blaze of glory. Frank is going for a job interview, when Nico who is still mad at him, soaks him with a water hose.

Steven is out for a jog when he bumps into the Power Pack, who are out with Samuels. They ignore him and Steven goes “yeah”.