Episode 4539

Australian Air Date: 1st November 2007

On the morning of Belle’s last exam, Drew tells her he has a surprise for her when she finishes. Are there wedding bells in the air for Drew and Belle? Meanwhile, Jack’s condition changes. And is Dan having an affair?

Extended Summary

When Leah asks how Dan’s meeting went, he forgets the lie for a moment, but manages to cover. Unfortunately he accidentally drops his receipt from the Sands, and leaves his mobile. Irene answers when it rings, but the American woman on the line won’t give her any details. Leah doesn’t think much of it when Irene tells her, but Dan’s reaction when she tells him leaves her suspicious.

Leah finds the receipt for dinner at the Sands. While she frets, Dan meets up with the woman again, and tells her he’s come to a decision, though he hasn’t told his wife yet. When he returns to the Diner, Leah is on the phone to her mother, telling her that he’s having an affair. She blows up when she sees him, and can hardly believe his nerve when he introduces her to Gwen Stacy, the American woman. But things calm down once the situation is explained. He met Gwen on a school excursion, and she runs a camp for problem kids in the US. She’s offered him a job, and he wants to take it.

On the morning of Belle’s last exam, Drew tells her he has a surprise for her when she finishes, but won’t tell her what it is. When she complains to Irene, Annie pipes in that she knows what it is. She shouldn’t tell, but she can’t help it; she overheard Drew on the phone earlier talking about rings for Belle, he’s going to propose! Irene and Belle can’t quite believe it, but Belle heads off somewhat shaken. Despite having aced her exam, she’s nervous when she meets Drew afterwards. But to her delight and relief, the surprise is a car Drew has bought for her. Annie is disappointed, but Irene could kiss someone. And, on a whim, Drew and Belle drive off on a road trip in a cloud of spontaneity.

Rory is having a hard time while his mother insists on her vigil of Jack. It’s bad enough with Jack in a coma, now it feels like his mum’s abandoned him as well. Martha is also worried, though she’s been getting updates from Rachel. Given her history with Sam, she’s worried about visiting, and worse still, she knows that Jack was shot before he could finalise the divorce, and if it’s not finalised soon, Sam will have to postpone the wedding, but doesn’t know how to tell her.

On Michael’s insistence, Martha goes to the hospital, where Rachel tells her that Jack’s chances of recovery are getting worse with each day, in Rory’s earshot. Martha offers to take over for Sam for a while, and Sam eventually agrees, for Rory’s sake. Then, while she and Rory are re-bonding and Martha is alone in Jacks recovery room, Jack wakes up.