Episode 447

Australian Air Date: 12th December 1989
UK Air Date: 5th November 1990
Writer: Greg Stevens
Director: Julian McSwiney

Marilyn sees her producer in a new light and Zac is given a pressing ultimatum.

Extended Summary

At the store, Ailsa is trying to calm Alf down over Zac. Zac didn’t take Alf’s payoff so he obviously has no intention of cooling things with Pippa. Alf just hopes he catches the shark and leaves soon. Lance comes in and Alf asks him if he’s sure he saw the shark because nobody else has seen it and if the beach stays closed much longer the whole town will be bankrupt. Lance gets defensive.

Zac is having breakfast with Tom and offers Carly a lift to work but she would rather walk. Tom wonders if Zac will catch the shark today and Zac says it’s taking longer than expected but Tom tells him he’s doing fine. Zac goes into the kitchen and thanks Pippa for breakfast. He wants to know how he can show his appreciation but Pippa continues rejecting his advances.

Ailsa arrives at the Diner and Carly asks where it will leave the rest of them when Tom finds out about Pippa’s “affair” and leaves her. Martin and Marilyn come in with Marilyn’s game show producer Drew. Drew asks Martin where he sees Café de Waves going and Martin talks about global franchising. Drew is clearly sceptical but says they can come to some arrangement on cross-promotion.

Viv goes to see Emma and tells her that Donald arrived just as she was going to kiss Steven. Emma assures her that Steven is interested and says maybe he needs someone else to tell him. She promises not to say anything but goes to the Diner and blackmails Matt into talking to Steven by threatening to spread rumours about him having an STD!

At the mobile home, Martin thinks they’ve hit the big time with Marilyn’s producer but Lance has heard it all before and doesn’t want anything to do with it. At a table outside the Diner, Drew tells Martin that his idea requires Lance to be involved as well. Drew suggests Marilyn try to change Lance’s mind because it’s not just Lance and Martin’s future at stake but her career as well. Marilyn says that’s not fair.

Inside, Carly rudely delivers Pippa’s coffee. In the kitchen, Carly tells Ailsa that Pippa deserves it and asks Ailsa why she doesn’t say something to Pippa. She thinks Tom deserves to be told about the affair. Ailsa thinks the whole think will be forgotten about when Zac leaves town but Carly will never forget about it.

At the mobile home Lance tells Marilyn she’s wasting her time if Drew sent her to talk him into being on TV. Marilyn says there’s plenty they can talk about but Lance says things will never be the same between them while she’s a star. Marilyn says she still wants to be his best friend. Lance says there is something he needs to get off his chest but he’s not sure if he can trust her. Marilyn assures him he is important to her and Lance confesses he told a big lie.

Matt comes to see Steven at the house and tells him Emma wants him to know that Viv is interested in him. Steven already knows. He’s playing it cool and having a bit of fun. It will do her good to suffer for a while.

Marilyn and Lance walk along the beach and Lance tells Marilyn he thinks Donohue conned him about seeing the shark. He is scared and doesn’t know what to do. Marilyn asks if facing the music would be any worse than how he feels now. At the store, Lance has just confessed and Alf asks if he is dreaming. Marilyn says Lance wouldn’t lie! Alf says that’s exactly what he did, and if he had any brains he would have known Donohue was using him. Marilyn says the bright side is that the shark has gone and Alf agrees; seeing the back of Zac will make his day.

At the Diner, Alf tells Ailsa and Carly he thinks the locals will agree to reopen the beach. Lance and Marilyn sit at the counter and Lance tells Marilyn he will do the interview for her. Marilyn tells him he’s a gentleman and a scallop! Matt comes in and tells Emma he’s spoken to Steven. Viv wants to ask Andrew to pair her with someone else but Emma is confident she will get Steven.

Alf holds a meeting at the surf club in the evening. Everyone agrees to re-opening the beach but somebody asks if they can keep the shark catcher on.

At the Sands, Marilyn is having dinner with Drew who reveals he’s planning to make Lance and Martin look like idiots. Marilyn pleads with him to think of something else. Drew tells her there’s a thousand girls waiting in line for her job; either she plays along or she’s out.

Steven and Emma are leaving the house to carry out surveillance on the beach but Carly teases them about it being romantic. Zac arrives as they leave, looking for his dinner, but Pippa is out. Zac asks what they can do to amuse themselves and Carly suggests he stick his head in a coffee grinder! Zac gloats that there’s nothing she can do to get rid of him, but Carly informs him about the meeting. Zac goes to the surf club and asks for two more days to catch the shark. Tom tips the vote in his favour. Zac tells Alf it’s ironic; the bloke he did the dirty on just saved his neck.

Guest Cast

ZAC BURGESS (MARK CONROY)

DREW HOWARD (IGNATIUS JONES)
First episode. Producer of Marilyn’s TV show ‘Cheap Shots’. Tried to convince her to make a fool of Martin and Lance on national television.

ENID (JAN OXENBOULD)
Second appearance, last seen in #253. Attended the town meeting to decide whether the beach should be reopened after Lance’s shark sighting was revealed to be fake.

CITIZEN NO.2 (GREG ELLIS)
Attended the town meeting about the beach re-opening.

CITIZEN NO.3 (HAROLD JONES)
Attended the town meeting about the beach re-opening.