Episode 378

Extended Summary

Tom finishes a phone call, arranging schedules with workmen.He complains about not being able to get away from work but Pippa assures him it’ll get better when the resort opens.Sally is colouring in at the table.Ross arrives and asks to speak to Tom and Pippa;he wants Sally to come and stay with him and Louise for a bit.Tom and Pippa tell him that they know he asked Morag to block their application for guardianship and it should be Sally’s choice.Ross agrees, pointing out if the guardianship went through she wouldn’t have a choice.He goes up to Sally’s room to speak to her about coming to stay with them for the weekend.Sally doesn’t want to, even when Ross says she can ride ponies, swim and play the piano, but when he tells her Tom and Pippa are fine with it she agrees to go for the day.

Andrew and Stacey are adjusting their clothes as she comes out of the bedroom:They appear to have slept together and both seem embarrassed about it.Stacey says they can’t pretend it didn’t happen but Andrew thinks they should do just that.Stacey makes a phone call to Nina to tell her about Lance’s interview and they make plans to deal with it.Stacey invites Andrew to comment but he says he wasn’t listening.

Ross says his goodbyes to Tom, Pippa and Sally, arranging to pick Sally up at nine o’clock after breakfast. The next morning, Pippa is getting Sally ready:She is dressed smartly and clutching her giant teddy.She is upset that she’ll have to stay with the Keatings until the evening and anxious to know that Tom and Pippa will both be there when she gets home.Ross honks his horn outside and Pippa sends Sally out to him.As they drive out of town, Ross tells Sally that all the children in their neighbourhood love Louise.

Alf and Ailsa are serving Andrew and Stacey at the bottle shop while Alf comments on the difficulties he’s having getting the new store up and running and how he’s been having problems with tradesmen.Andrew semi-seriously offers to help out and Alf says he might take him up on it, since he wants the store finished before Celia gets back.Ailsa notes they received a postcard Celia sent from Paris, saying she’s having a great time.She wonders why Andrew and Stacey are buying separate groceries when they live together and Stacey says they’re independent.After they’ve gone, Ailsa tells Alf she thinks something’s happened between them and they were making a point.

Sally and Ross arrive at the Keatings’ house where they are greeted by Louise, who seems anxious that Sally likes it there.Sally is still cautious, not even letting Ross take her bag, and is worried the water in their pool might be cold.Louise gives her a tour of the house, where she sees lots of toys and colouring books that the local children use when they come to visit Louise.Sally is drawn to their piano and Louise offers to teach her to play.They show Sally a bedroom that she can use if she wants to.She is instantly smitten with a cuddly clown on the bed, even handing her teddy to Louise so she can hold it.Ross gives her a riding hat and offers to teach her to ride.

Pippa brings some baby clothes to the Diner for Ailsa since she hasn’t had time to collect them from the house.Ailsa tells her her theory about Andrew and Stacey and Pippa jokes she’s taking over from Celia. Ailsa asks if she’s heard from Sally.At the Keatings’ house, Ross helps Sally onto a pony and Louise explains her name is Blossom.Sally is a rather nervous rider as Ross leads them around the garden but soon agrees to let Ross let go so she can try riding on her own.The gentle trot brings a broad smile to her face.

Pippa tells Ailsa she’s worried about how Sally will react to the Keatings, since she told Carly she was scared of Ross, but admits she’s really worried Sally might like them too much.Ailsa assures her that won’t happen.Tom is having a similar conversation with Alf at the bottle shop, saying he wishes they’d managed to adopt Sally before Ross turned up since now she can be taken away from them.Alf is certain Sally won’t want that.

Andrew and Stacey arrive home and Stacey admits they made a fool of themselves with the groceries and it was a bad idea.She gets another phone call from Nina, who wants to arrange the international release of the single and suggests using the George Morris Agency.Stacey mentions George is Carly’s father so Nina decides to give Carly a job as a sweetener.Andrew is amused, telling Stacey that Carly and George hate each other and neither would be happy about the other’s involvement.He accuses her of exploiting Carly but Nina points out Carly wanted a job.Andrew notes she’s getting angry again and asks if she wants him to kiss her.She responds by stuffing an apple into his mouth.

Sally and Ross join Louise on the terrace after her ride.Sally wants to have a swim in the pool but Ross reminds her about the piano lesson, saying there isn’t time for her to do both.Louise suggests she could come again some time.Back in Summer Bay, Pippa brings Christopher downstairs to say good night to Tom.Tom gets a phone call from Sally and tells Pippa she’s decided to spend the night with Ross and Louise:Obviously the trip didn’t go that badly…