Episode 147

Extended Summary

Rod is showing Ailsa a map of the wetlands area where the development is supposed to be built and says that the construction will not only affect that area but cause a knock-on effect, with the changing tides, that will wreck the whole estuary.Roo comes home and Ailsa introduces her to Rod, a conservationist.Roo accuses her of going behind Alf’s back and says he won’t be happy when he finds out what she’s up to.Rod insists he’s not against developments if they’re responsible and take the environmental effect into account. He apologises if he’s causing trouble but Ailsa is convinced that if Alf hears all the facts he’ll come around.

Narelle is sewing herself a new dress in the store while singing loudly and tunelessly.Frank turns up and asks where Bobby’s gone.Narelle tells him she thought she knew who really sent her the flowers and went off to confront him.Frank thought that Bobby was over him but Narelle doesn’t think she’ll ever be.She asks if there’s a chance but he insists he thinks of Bobby as a sister and accepts he’s going to have to make it clear to her nothing can ever happen.

Brett is in a dressing gown, drying himself off with a towel, and dumping the flowers in the bin.Roo turns up and trades the information about Rod for an explanation of what happened.Brett explains Bobby thought he’d sent her flowers and poured a vase over him.A dry cleaner drops his clothes off and Brett asks Roo for information on Bobby.She says that Bobby’s mother and grandparents were actually nice and her grandparents used to run Ailsa’s store until they left town three years ago, when Bobby’s mother died of cancer.However, her father’s in prison and Bobby used to be a petty criminal and “a bit of a moll”, until recently when she started acting like a born again virgin.Despite the unflattering report, Brett seems interested.Roo is bored talking about her though and is more interested in what he’s going to do about Rod.

Ailsa is about to give Rod a lift back to his seaplane, with him leaving his papers behind for her, when Alf comes home.Ailsa suggest he comes with them in the car so they can talk on the journey.Alf, however, would rather talk about her going off without telling him what she was doing.Rod offers to get a taxi so they can talk but Ailsa insists on being a polite host and tells Alf they’ll talk when she gets back.

Bobby calls Narelle to come round to the caravan park and excitedly tells her about what she did to Brett. They are surprised when Alan appears and says he’s come back to town to make things up to Bobby and his parents.He asks Bobby if she liked the flowers he sent her.Narelle bursts out laughing while Bobby looks awkward.After she’s put the flowers in a vase, she and Narelle chide Alan for not signing the card and explain that Bobby threw a vase over Brett because she thought he sent them.As penance, Alan drags them outside and pours the vase containing his flowers over himself.

At the bottle shop, Alf is chatting to a cardboard cut-out that he’s dressed up as a fisherman when Ailsa turns up.Alf admits he was stroppy earlier but still isn’t happy with her for not telling him she was back in town or what she was up to and is bewildered by her talk of “marital democracy”.Ailsa gives up and storms out.

Bobby turns up at the Macklin office and finds Roo sitting in there reading a magazine.Roo tells her Brett’s out so Bobby says she’ll sit and wait.Roo insists Brett would never go for someone like her and she’s making a mistake.Eyeing Roo’s pregnancy bump, Bobby retorts that at least she won’t have to live with her mistake for the rest of her life.Brett is at the store where he tells Ailsa they would have done an environmental report and there was no need to pre-empt them.Ailsa replies that he’ll soon have a copy of Rod’s report, as will the council, the papers and the rest of the town.Brett suggests that there might be a few skeletons in her closet she doesn’t want revealed but Ailsa isn’t intimidated.Brett loses his temper and says they won’t let her wreck the development.Ailsa says she’s glad he’s showing his true colours.

Don is planting a bush outside his house while Alan watches from a distance, hesitating over talking to him.In the end, he awkwardly approaches him and apologises for what he did before suggesting they stay out of each other’s way from now on.Don points out he’ll still be his headmaster but Alan says he’s not going back to school, there’s something else he’s got lined up.Barbara’s in the city for the day visiting Rebecca so he’ll tell her when she gets back.Don accepts the apology and agrees they should stay away from each other.

Brett arrives back at the office and tells Roo she can get off.Bobby gives him a perfunctory apology, saying she knows it wasn’t him who sent the flowers.Brett replies that if he’s going to be punished he’s going to do something to be punished for and kisses her.Later, at the store flat, Narelle listens amused as Bobby repeatedly brushes her teeth and washes her mouth out, saying the kiss was revolting.Narelle realises that she liked it, which isn’t the same as liking Brett, and asks her to give Brett marks out of ten:Most of the guys Narelle has kissed have only rated a three and the most she’s ever given anyone was a five.Bobby admits Brett was a high five.

Brett is on the phone to Gordon, telling him about Rod, when Frank comes in and he quickly changes the subject and hangs up.He asks Frank about his taking Bobby along to the cocktail party as his date.Frank says there’s nothing romantic between them but Bobby’s his foster sister and best mate and makes it clear that if Brett hurts her he’ll have him to deal with.

Alf, Ailsa and Roo are sharing an uncomfortable dinner.Ailsa apologises for not having time to make dessert and Roo offers to make some.Alf, however, says he has other things to do and asks to look at Rod’s papers.Roo doesn’t look happy about the turn of events.

Frank calls Bobby to the flat and sits her down, once more stressing that he doesn’t see her romantically.He says that he’s never had a family before even though he’s enjoyed living with Tom, Pippa and the others but that he sees Bobby like a real sister.Bobby says it would be easier if he stayed away from Roo but Frank says he can’t help it, it’s just chemistry.He tells her he hopes one day she’ll meet someone who can give her what she wants and kisses her on the cheek before going to make the coffee.Bobby sighs and looks forlorn.