Episode 1241

Australian Air Date: 24th May 1993
Writer: Chris Roache
Director: Grant Brown

Fin feels badly about her reaction to Bill’s disability. Luke is appalled by the first dress rehearsal for the musical.

Extended Summary

In starts in a packed Diner where Tug’s finding the conversation between Angel and Sarah boring. She is still fuming over what Shane did in the cookery class, which sets Sarah wondering if the real reason she won’t drop the matter, is because she is attracted to him. She denies this but when he comes in with Damian, they can’t keep their eyes off one another. They find another table and Shane tries winding her up with his loud comments, but she ignores them. Ailsa’s having a hard time trying to keep customers happy because it’s so busy and Shane refuses to pass on a hat that she’s got for Angel, which doesn’t go down well. She calls Angel over and she’s delighted with it but he’s reluctant to make a comment on it, to which, she just glares at him and walks out. Sarah goes over to talk to Damian and they both think the same and wonder how they can get the two of them together. Down on the beach, the wind gets hold of Angel’s hat and it’s Shane who comes to the rescue but she refuses to thank him, instead she has a go at him before storming off.

Over at the caravan park, Luke introduces Bill to Roxy before taking him to get settled in. Fin seems a little disappointed but Roxy makes light of his disability. Inside, Bill wants to know if their mother is going to be alright and Luke assures him she will and that this is just a holiday. Fin feels bad about her reaction to Bill but when she talks to Pippa about it, she ensures her that once she gets to know him, his disability won’t be a problem. Luke then takes Bill over to the Surf Club and gets him to help with the preparations for the rehearsals. Shane comes in and when he finds the kiosk has no chocolate, decides to nip down to the store for some but before he leaves, Damian arrives and asks if he’s spoken to Angel yet. When he tells him about the incident on the beach, Damian assumes he provoked her but Shane’s still mad at what happened and says she’s a cow and goes off to the store. Damian inadvertently upsets Luke when he introduces himself to Bill and calls him ‘Billy’. Luke gives him a lecture and Damian is left wondering what he did wrong.

Over at the store, Angel is telling Sarah about the beach incident as Shane arrives. She reacts the same way he did to her in the Diner earlier and he doesn’t utter a word. Outside, Sarah’s a little annoyed by her antics but Angel’s adamant he deserved it. Back at rehearsals, Shane and Sarah take to the stage to act their scene in a telephone conversation. Tug puts the pressure on when he keeps correcting Shane and his only way to get back at him, is an impromptu kiss at the end of the scene with Sarah, causing Tug to jump up on the stage and have a go at him. At the end of the rehearsals, Luke informs them they were diabolical and the only way to improve, is to increase the rehearsals, which doesn’t go down well. At the Diner, Luke starts to wonder if he was too hard on the performers but Roxy thinks he was right. Fin goes to get Bill another drink and whilst she’s at the counter, Adam comes in and puts his foot in his mouth, when he goes on about Bill being a fast worker with the local girls. Bill’s confused with the line of conversation but Luke isn’t and when Fin returns with the drink, Luke informs her that he has just heard about her infatuation of Bill. She’s embarrassed because Luke is very annoyed with her. He, Roxy and Bill go back to the Stewart home and he talks to Roxy about his concerns about his brother. Roxy tries to assure him that everything will be fine but he’s worried that Bill’s disability will cause problems. Alf comes in and as he goes to get a drink, he meets Bill for the first time and soon picks up on the boy’s disability but says nothing. Fin’s still upset, back at the Diner but Ailsa reassures her that everything will turn out fine. Damian and Shane are over at Fisher’s place, discussing the pressures of extra rehearsals, when Angel comes in. Shane confronts her about her outburst on the beach and says he was only trying to help. She apologises and goes to bed, leaving him a bit shell-shocked but Damian finds it amusing.

As Luke and Bill settle down for the night, Bill asks him why he was angry with Fin but he can’t think of a suitable answer. When Bill admits he wants Fin as a friend, Luke’s not happy about it and tries to discourage it. Meanwhile, Fin is having another heart to heart with Pippa about the way she’s treated Bill.

It ends with Pippa suggesting she goes over in the morning and apologises to Bill and invite him down to the beach and just treat him as a normal lad…

Avril M Harrison