Episode 362

Extended Summary

Pippa and Tom are waiting up when Carly arrives home. She apologises for taking the car and explains that Adam wanted to show her a beach as she had an idea for the band photo shoot and wanted to impress Nina. The car got bogged and so they walked home. Tom lectures her for taking the car and missing work.

We get to see Donald’s kitchen for the very first time the following morning as Bobby calls Reverend Newton’s neighbour and tells them to go next-door and look in the cupboard under the stairs! Donald is surprised to find Viv and Tammy eating breakfast in his house and Bobby tells him they had to get away from their father. Donald is angry with Bobby and she tells him how Reverend Newton makes the girls go without food for days and hold burning matches; he can’t send them back. Donald will think about it but insists on letting Reverend Newton know where they are and calling the authorities.

Tom arranges to have the car towed before leaving for work. Pippa tells Carly not to be surprised if Ailsa fires her. Carly says the work for Nina is so much more interesting but Pippa reminds her she’s made a commitment to Ailsa and Bobby who pay her wages.

Donald comes off the phone; the department won’t say anything until they’ve spoken to all parties. Donald tells Bobby that he will handle the situation now. He calls Reverend Newton and tells him the girls are safe with him. Reverend Newton is relieved and feigns ignorance over what got into them.

Carly arrives at the Diner and apologises to Bobby for being late. Bobby asks her to take an order but Carly has to make an “important phone call”… to Stacey, about an idea she’s had! She arranges to meet her at 1 but Bobby tells her she won’t be able to because she’ll be working Ailsa’s shift to make up for last night. They have an argument about Carly’s attitude and so Carly quits!

Donald is trying to find out why Tammy is scared of her father. Tammy says if they don’t do what he tells them he says they’re disobeying God. Donald asks her if she wants to go back with her father but she says she just wants to be with Viv. Viv and Tammy leave to go to the shop for Donald before the man from the department arrives.

Viv and Tammy walk along a road and Viv tells Tammy she has to tell the man from the department the truth. Tammy is too scared, not just of her father but of God. Viv tells her God wouldn’t punish her for telling the truth. They see their father’s car coming towards them and hide behind a tree.

Donald lets Reverend Newton into the house and he apologises for Donald having been landed with this. Donald tries to draw information out of him by saying children these days don’t seem to understand that discipline can be for their own good. Reverend Newton is delighted to meet a man after his own heart and says children must be made to learn from their mistakes: “Unpleasant as it is, pain is the most effective reminder!”

Carly arrives at Stacey’s, bringing the mail in with her. It’s contracts from Nina but there isn’t one for Carly. Carly answers Stacey’s phone (as you do) and it’s Nina, but she doesn’t remember who Carly is! Stacey speaks to Nina, leaving Carly looking worried.

As they walk back to the house, Tammy suggests running away but Viv says it didn’t get her anywhere. Howard West from the department pulls up in his car. Inside, Reverend Newton says he doesn’t want to press charges against Bobby. He claims that Viv imagined his harsh punishments. Donald pushes for him to explain his punishments but he claims they are not harsh and that Viv’s emotions have been volatile since her mother’s death. Viv yells that he’s a liar.

Stacey tells an upset Carly that she never promised her a job, but there’s a possibility there might be one if the venture succeeds… which will take at least three months.

Carly is back at Summer Bay House and Tom gives her the $150 towing bill. Carly admits to Pippa that there’s no job with Nina and that she walked out on Bobby. Pippa lectures her and wants her looking for a new job first thing in the morning.

Howard gives Viv and Tammy the option of going home with their father or staying in a children’s home. Reverend Newton tries to sway Tammy by saying Viv could leave like she did before, and she would be with total strangers. Tammy decides to go home, while Donald has agreed to let Viv stay. Viv says a tearful goodbye to Tammy before she leaves with her father. Bobby comes along and asks Donald why he didn’t stop her. Donald says it’s out of their hands