Episode 591

Extended Summary

In the Diner kitchen, Ailsa is telling Emma about Blake and Karen. Emma is looking forward to meeting them. Ailsa admits she hasn’t yet told Alf that their Uncle Alec doesn’t want them back and they’re going to be staying with them. Ailsa realises the sandwiches Emma is making are for Paul and Steven and offers to take them out but Emma serves them and is polite to Paul if not particularly friendly. Paul tells Steven he thinks their plan’s not worth upsetting her but Steven convinces him to keep at it. Ailsa notes Emma’s cool behaviour but thinks she still likes Paul. Emma says if Paul has chosen to be with Vicki there’s nothing she can do.

Alf notes the work Ben has done on the lounge. He decides to clear up and is grateful when Karen offers to help but notes that Alec will be coming to pick her and Blake up in a couple of days. Blake and Karen are both horrified, especially when Alf says Ailsa phoned him, but Alf thinks they’ll sort things out and enjoy living on the farm. Once he’s gone, Blake tries to convince Karen they should leave town before Alec gets there, thinking Ailsa will go along with Alf, but Karen says they should stay and see what happens.

Ailsa tells Emma to take Karen and Blake somewhere where they get home so she can talk to Alf. Vicki comes in and briefly greets Paul before ordering a milkshake. Emma serves her but they trade insults as she does so. Vicki tells Paul her parents are going out, leaving her babysitting her younger sister, and suggests he come over. Paul says he’s got a Maths assignment to do. After she’s gone, Steven reminds Paul what they’re supposed to be doing. Paul goes after Vicki and tells her he can tell his mum he’s doing his homework at her place. Vicki kisses him and agrees to see him later. Matt and Adam come over and tease Paul for being with Vicki. Adam wonders why he chose Emma over her. Paul says it’s his business and runs off. Back at the Diner, Emma asks Steven why Paul’s changed his mind about her. Steven can only suggest that he was bored. Adam comes in and asks Steven to borrow his pushbike. Steven realises it’s part of a moneymaking scheme and insists on taking a cut of the profits.

Ailsa introduces Emma to Blake and Karen and gets her to take them to her room to listen to music. As Ailsa is about to talk to Alf, Alec, who Ailsa met at Margo’s funeral, turns up. Alf is shocked to find he has Blake and Karen’s things with them. Alec remarks that he’s always liked his own company, so Blake and Karen are better off with them. Alf realises what’s really going on. Blake and Karen take their things away while Alec remarks to Alf and Ailsa in private that they never did work without being told and how he always told their mother she should have them adopted. Alf sends Blake and Karen to see Alec off and tells Emma to tidy up, saying he needs to talk to Ailsa.

Paul is moaning to Steven at the Fletchers’ about having to spend the evening with Vicki. He wants Steven to come with him but Steven refuses. As Paul leaves, Adam and Matt turn up. Matt mentions that Adam is using Steven’s bike for his cleaning business. Realising Adam will be carrying his cleaning equipment on the bike, Steven charges him extra for wear and tear. At the Stewarts’, Ailsa apologises for not telling Alf that Blake and Karen were staying but says she made a promise to Margo to look after them. Alf insists that they’re not their responsibility and they need to focus on their own family. He goes to ring the Department of Youth and Community Services but they’ve closed for the night. He says he’ll ring them first thing in the morning.

At the Diner, Emma reassures Blake and Karen that Ailsa will be able to talk Alf into keeping them. Blake thinks that they should go to a refuge in the city but Emma tells them they don’t want to stay in a place like that. That night, over dinner, Ailsa reluctantly tells Blake and Karen that they can’t stay and they’re going to get the department to place them in a foster home. Karen reminds her of her promise but Ailsa says she’s not in a position to keep that promise. Karen tries to convince her to let them stay, saying they’ll get jobs to pay their way, but Blake cuts her off, snapping that it doesn’t matter. Later, with a storm raging outside and Blake and Karen having gone to their room, Alf invites a sullen Emma to speak. Emma says that she knows what it’s like to be in Blake and Karen’s position and they could make it work if they tried. After she’s gone, Alf tells Ailsa that he’d help them if he could but they can’t afford it. Ailsa doesn’t think the financial considerations are important but Alf won’t budge.

During the night, Blake and Karen sneak out of the house. Karen isn’t entirely happy with the idea, thinking they should leave a note or see where they’re placed, but Blake insists they have to do it on their own. Alf and Ailsa are in bed and Ailsa almost hears them leave but seems to shrug it off as part of the storm. Next morning, Blake and Karen are waiting at the bus stop but when the bus arrives Karen refuses to get on it and walks off. Blake steps aside and lets the other people go on the bus. At the house, Ailsa and Emma tell Alf that Blake and Karen have gone. Emma recalls Blake talking about going to a refuge and Alf and Ailsa decide to go and look for them.

Steven finds Emma working at the Diner. She says she’s holding the fort until Carly arrives and reminds him they’re not open yet. Vicki appears, saying she’s meant to be meeting Paul there. She suggests she tired him out the previous night and says she’ll catch him at home. After she’s gone, Emma tells Steven she’s going to get even with Vicki and she’ll wish she’d never been born.