Episode 571

Extended Summary

Grant and Jane arrive back at his caravan in the middle of the night. Both are slightly drunk and Grant is making jokes about Jane being a police officer. They swap stories about how people react when they find out what they do for a living. Grant picks up on one of Jane’s comment and asks to see her revolver before they kiss enthusiastically. At the Stewart house, Alf and Ailsa are sitting up when Emma arrives home. She protests she’s not back late but they tell her about Don’s visit. Alf tells her she’s wasted her second chance. Emma continues to rail about the injustice and storms off to bed.

Next morning, Bobby looks at her campaign poster at the Diner. Pippa comes in for some milk and asks if she’s heard the result. Bobby says Adam and Matt have gone to look. Bobby admits that after the meeting she attended she’s not sure if she wants to win the election, since all she really wanted to do was save the oval. Adam and Matt arrive and confirm that Ernie won by a landslide. Shortly after, Bobby is taking down the poster while Adam grumbles about the loss of the oval. Ernie comes in, enjoying his victory, and says they should put their differences behind them. With no other options, Bobby agrees to let the matter rest.

Emma leaves most of her breakfast and heads off down the beach. Alf tells Ailsa not to bother with her. Ailsa is worried what will happen to Emma if she doesn’t finish school and points out they all make mistakes which Alf thinks is a dig about his drink driving charge. Ailsa says it wasn’t but thinks that he should stop hiding it. Ailsa goes to see Grant, who is meditating in his caravan. She asks him if he can talk to Don about keeping Emma in school but Grant says that even if Don does change his mind Emma and Vicki would soon be back at each other’s throats. He offers to talk to the deputy head at Yabbie Creek, a friend of his, and get Emma a place there. He asks about Alf and Ailsa admits he hasn’t told anyone about the charge. Grant points out it’ll be in the papers when he goes to court.

At the store, Alf expresses his disappointment to Marilyn about Ernie winning the election, since he was hoping Bobby would get his votes. Jane comes in in uniform and asks to speak to Alf. Alf tries to get rid of Marilyn by sending her on her break, in the end telling her she’s looking ill and should have a walk on the beach. Once they’re alone, Jane serves Alf with a summons to appear in court. Alf cuts short her recitation of his legal rights and complains about the charge, saying she could have just let him off with a warning, although Jane reiterates he broke the law. Meanwhile, Grant calls round to see Pippa, Carly and Ben and asks to have a word with Ben about his bucks’ night. They decide to talk outside. Carly asks why she can’t hear and after some hesitation Ben says she might get the wrong idea.

Adam stumbles across Marilyn walking on the beach. She is wondering if she really looks sick and also how long she should wait before going back to work. Adam apologises for giving her a hard time about the letter. He’s still trying to find a way to stop Ernie. Marilyn recalls he was worried she’d photocopied the letter. This gives Adam an idea; he kisses Marilyn on the cheek and hurries off. At the Diner, Jane arrives and sits with Carly as Bobby chats to Emma at the counter. Bobby doesn’t blame Emma for hitting Vicki, recalling she often got into trouble for things she didn’t do, but she’s worried about Emma’s plans to drop out of school and get a job, saying it would waste all her hard work. Jane tells Carly that the bucks’ night probably won’t be too rowdy an affair but recalls she once got called out to a groom who’d been tied to a convent gate naked.

Adam heads out to the oval and finds Ernie inspecting the development site. He accuses him of being involved in the development and claims to have the letter to prove it. Ernie brushes the claim aside but Adam says if he doesn’t call off the redevelopment he’ll go to the papers. Later, at the Diner, Adam explains what he did to Bobby and Matt but none of them are certain Ernie will fall for it. Ben comes in and Carly tries to put him off the idea of the bucks’ night, talking about the pranks they play, but Ben refuses to give her any details, telling her to just get the girls together and have a shower tea. After he’s gone, Carly muses that her party doesn’t have to be boring.

Alf and Ailsa tell Emma about the place Grant’s got for her at Yabbie Creek but Emma refuses to go, saying everyone will assume she’s guilty and the new school will treat her like a cheat. She insists she’s going to get a job and storms out. Alf wonders if they’ve had any influence on her but Ailsa retorts she’s learned to be as stubborn as Alf. At the Diner, Marilyn tells Matt about her odd working day, with her being sent down the beach and then Ailsa taking Alf away. Ernie arrives and tells Bobby and Adam he wants to see the letter. Bobby sends Adam into the back to get it. Marilyn comes to the counter to order a milkshake and Bobby tries to get her out of the way. When Ernie makes caustic remarks about her going back on her word and Marilyn looks bemused, Bobby spills the milkshake over her and gets Matt to take her out the back. Adam comes back in after putting a memo pad in an envelope and he and Bobby tell Ernie he has one hour to release a press statement saying the oval’s safe or they’ll go to the press.

That night, at the Stewart house, Ailsa tells Emma that things have been hectic since she came back but she now realises Emma’s telling the truth about being innocent. She asks Emma to give Yabbie Creek High a try, worrying that if she leaves school now she’ll become bitter and telling her she can leave if she doesn’t enjoy it. Emma agrees to give it a go. At the Diner, Bobby, Matt and Adam explain the plan to Marilyn. Ernie arrives and shows them a statement saying that the oval is safe and the development will be moved to a new site. He says it will be on the radio that evening and asks for the letter. Adam hands over the envelope and Ernie burns it without opening it, adding that he’s distanced himself from the development and any further attempts at blackmail will be met with legal action. After he’s gone, everyone celebrates loudly.