Episode 162

Extended Summary

Morag, Alf and Roo arrived at Celia’s house from Alan’s funeral, Morag motioned for Roo to stay in the car while she talked to Alf. She voiced her opinion about Ailsa’s absence at the funeral, as it was for the immediate family and while Morag fished for evidence while she voiced her opinion that Alf would be better off without Ailsa. Morag thought that Ailsa was never good enough for Alf but he admitted that it was his fault that Ailsa left, that now they were separated and that Morag could “stick her opinions under her wig”. Morag was glad that Roo hadn’t inherited Alf’s stubbornness. Roo also mentioned that Ailsa had a new man as Alf mentioned it one night when he was drunk and that he was there when Alf visited Pippa at the hospital. Roo wanted to know what Alan had left her in his will but Morag wouldn’t disclose anything until everyone had arrived.

At the table sat Donald, Barbara, Bobby, Alf, Roo and Morag for the reading of Alan’s will. Morag told them that Alan had come to her two or three months ago to take care of his will and subsequently amended it two or three weeks ago. His full name was Alan Donald Fisher.

Alan made his will a comical one, Morag told everyone that he wrote it and it was those words that she was reading out.

Alan left nothing to his Uncle Alf because he was a man with everything. A happy new marriage with the beautiful Ailsa, a lovely daughter and soon a new grandchild, he figured that Alf didn’t need anything else in life.

Alan left a piece of advice to his cousin Roo, you’re basically a good kid don’t ruin your life by being a two-faced manipulator, sometimes it is great – try to make it always. She thought that she would get Alan’s surf board.

Alan left Bobby a parcel and he thought that said it all.

Alan left Barbara with a message: Mum thanks for everything, you’ve put up with a hell of a lot but you were always there. I wish I had a lot of valuable things to leave you but I want you to take this package. You can decide what to do with it whether it is worth saving or to be thrown out.

Alan left Aunt Celia some advice: to loosen up!

Alan left Donald his ashes and a video tape. He knew that Donald wouldn’t like it but as Donald always said “What the hell.”

Alan wanted his Mum to take all the money from his bank account and also the proceeds from the sale of his surf board and to have a party for all his relatives and friends. There would be no tears but lots of laughs at this slap up party. And his father was invited too.

When the will had been read out, Donald had an outburst about Alan’s will, its contents and that he just did things to get even with everyone. Barbara then preceded to tell Donald that he didn’t have a compassionate bone in his body, their son was dead, that he avoided him when he was alive and wanted to conform to Donald’s way of behaviour when he was gone, that he was a selfish small-minded man who never took the time to try to understand anyone but himself and for a father and human being he was a total failure. Barbara then left the room after her outburst which was done in front of everyone who attended the reading of the will.

In her bedroom, Bobby opened the parcel that Alan left her and read the note attached. He gave her Benjamin his teddy bear, he was a friend and comfort when his parents were arguing and although he’d lost one eye he was really great at cuddling. He hoped that they would become great mates. Alan also mentioned that he felt a strong connection with Bobby, that she could understand him better than anyone else could, that he loved her and to not forget him. She also had to make sure that Donald had carried out his wishes as per instructions on the video tape.

Morag visited Pippa in hospital, she came with a bunch of flowers and even got to meet Christopher. Pippa was surprised that Morag came to visit her so she said that it was to catch up. She also passed on her thanks from Barbara about sending flowers to Alan’s funeral. Morag was fishing for information when she changed the subject to Alf, saying that he felt dreadful too about breaking up with Ailsa even though Pippa thought that it would only be temporary. Morag wanted to know the name of the guy who Ailsa brought with her to the hospital, Pippa didn’t have a clue what she was on about and told her that Ailsa came alone when visiting her. She told Morag to ask Ailsa herself as there was enough trouble between Alf and Ailsa without Morag also getting involved.

Donald was in his office at school when Barbara came by. Donald mentioned that he hadn’t watched the video tape as yet as he was procrastinating and then Barbara came to apologise to Donald but he also apologised to her. She showed him the autobiographical novel, much to Donald’s disbelief, which was left in the parcel for her. Alan started to write the booked once he found out about the aneurism and Alan asked his mum if she would either publish or dispose the novel. She was selling the idea of the novel to Donald saying that it was a remarkable book worth reading but Donald wasn’t interested nor did he want anything to do with it. Barbara didn’t want to get the book published until she got his okay as a lot of it concerned Donald and he assumed that he wasn’t presented in a very flattering light to which Barbara agreed. The Department approved of Barbara’s transfer back to the City and that she wanted to be around for Rebecca as she would need her Mum now more than ever even though he suggested that Rebecca could come to Summer Bay. Barbara said that she was happy in school and that for her there were too many memories in Summer Bay, not all bad despite what she had said earlier.

Morag walked into the store during Colleen’s shift and Colleen couldn’t believe it that Morag Stewart was right before her. Morag corrected her by saying Morag Bellingham and so Colleen introduced herself as Colleen Smart used to be Colleen Hickey, that they were in school together in the same class and wondered when the last time Morag was in the Bay, for Ruth’s wedding and now she was back for Alan’s funeral. Colleen gossiped about Alf, Ailsa, her own husband who ran off with some floozy, that Lance had come into some good fortune and that she wanted Morag to put in a good word to Roo about getting together with Lance before she called her by her nickname of “Pudge”. Morag remembered that they used to call Colleen “hopeless Hickey”. Roo came into the store and Morag ordered two cappuccinos to have outside. Morag told Roo that Colleen wanted to set her up with Lance, Roo said that was one mystery solved as she retold Morag the story of how the Smarts came over for dinner and she at the time thought that Colleen was after her Dad. Morag told her that she had no luck with Pippa and that Morag wanted Roo to make sure that Alf and Ailsa were kept apart by keeping the wound open, the odd comment now and again and to remind him that there was someone new in Ailsa’s life. Morag would go back to the City to find out more information on the new man.

Donald watched the video tape that Alan left for him – it was a tape with his last wish and the only thing he ever asked of his Dad, he wanted Donald to arrange for one of the surfers to scatter his ashes while riding down a face of a wave. Donald then picked up Alan’s book “On the Crest Of A Wave” and started to read it out aloud. Next we saw Donald outside his home with the manuscripts of Alan’s book and the video tape in hand, a fire burning and then in the next shot we saw the burnt video tape smouldering in the ashes and he sat on an empty can when Bobby walked in. She told him that she had received a letter from Alan and inquired if Donald had done what he was supposed to have done. Donald told her that it was all taken care of.

Barbara was in the classroom as she packed her bag then she looked around the room, found Alan’s project on wave action and was lost in thought when Donald entered the room. Donald gave Barbara his blessing to publish the book even though the whole book hurt but he admitted that it was superbly written and it deserved to be read. Barbara told Donald that he was a brave man, Donald admitted that the book would have a longer life than he would and that Alan had given him a way to end all the fighting in the family.

Donald was next seen driving towards the beach car park, then he strode along the beach with the box containing Alan’s ashes in hand as he walked down to the water’s edge where he asked a surfer to carry out Alan’s final wish. We then saw a surfer on their surf board on a wave with the box containing Alan’s ashes at the forefront of the board as he rode on a wave and the ashes were shattered into the sea. Donald read an excerpt from the book during that sequence and then the camera focused on Donald as he watched on.