Episode 417

Extended Summary

Over dinner, Emma says she bets Ailsa didn’t get food like this in prison. Alf changes the subject – he thinks Emma will easily get her learner’s permit tomorrow – but Emma changes it back, asking Ailsa if she was top dog in prison. Ailsa says no, and prison is not a fun place. It was pretty boring and mundane. Celia has offered to babysit Duncan for them to go to the movies so Emma goes to get ready. Alf thinks it’s great Emma is starting to come round but Ailsa says it’s for all the wrong reasons; she has become some kind of hero to Emma because she’s a murderer.

Matt is sticking up for Adam at the Diner, saying he’s not a smuggler, but Carly says he is a liar and a cheat. Stacey says they don’t have enough information to judge yet. Back home, Carly laments always choosing the wrong guys and not being as talented as her sister. Pippa reminds her how far she has come since they fostered her and how strong she is. Carly wants to make a new start and do something with her life.

The next morning, Ailsa is upset that memories of her time in jail have been raked up. Emma arrives home with her ‘L’ plates and Alf takes her out for her first lesson. Emma seems perfectly comfortable behind the wheel and only wants to talk about how Ailsa must have felt after killing her father. Alf grabs the wheel to avoid a lorry and the car goes off the road. Alf yells at Emma for not concentrating and about Ailsa. It suddenly occurs to him; how did Emma know it was Ailsa’s father she killed?

Matt arrives at the Diner and tells Carly that Adam’s still not back. Stacey arrives and has found all of Adam’s important documents at the flat; hardly the things he would leave behind if running from the police. She has a feeling Adam’s in big trouble. The three of them go for a walk and wonder where to start looking for Adam. Carly says if he wanted to take Millicent to a romantic, secluded island, she knows just the one. She finds it on a map back at Summer Bay House.

Alf arrives at the store and is mad at Celia for letting Emma con her into revealing the details about Ailsa killing her father. Celia feels dreadful and feels sorry for Emma until Alf tells her that Emma has formed a one-girl cheering squad. Celia is appalled and says she’ll point out the error of her ways. Alf tells her to stay out of it; she’s done enough damage already.

Stacey, Carly and Matt arrive on the island in a boat and find Adam’s tent, and “HELP” written in the sand. They wonder if he’s made a swim for it and been eaten by sharks! Carly gets upset but doesn’t notice Adam walking up behind her as she says she never got to tell him she loves him. Adam asks what kept them and Carly turns around. She calls Adam an arrogant, two-timing sleaze bucket and punches him!

Celia lectures Emma at the store for tricking her into revealing who Ailsa killed. She says they don’t condone what Ailsa did but Emma defends her, saying Ailsa was protecting herself. She yells at Celia to shove her opinions up her cash register and knocks a load of sweets on the floor! Alf cleans up and has a go at Celia for her lack of diplomacy but Celia says Emma needs to learn the consequences of her behaviour before she ends up in prison too.

Adam follows Carly into the Diner and tries to explain about Millicent; he never found her attractive and she ran off with his yacht. Ailsa is leaving to deal with Emma and tells Adam the police want him to give them a ring. Adam goes in the kitchen to do so. His yacht has been found burnt out.

Emma comes home and Alf has a go at her for vandalising the store. Emma says she doesn’t know why Ailsa married a wimp like Alf and storms off. Ailsa assures Alf she will deal with Emma.

Back at the Diner, Adam tells Carly and Stacey he put all the money from his parents’ house into the yacht but he didn’t have any insurance on it. Stacey says at least he wasn’t killed and Carly tells him he still has his friends. Matt comes in with the newspaper which reveals Millicent was part of a smuggling ring. Adam says he thought Millicent fancied him but she only wanted the yacht; he’s been had. Carly overhears and says so has she.

Ailsa admits to Emma that she couldn’t face telling her she killed her grandfather. Emma wishes she had done it to her step-father but Ailsa tells her it’s not the answer. Nothing prepares you for the loneliness of prison, and her father was still in control because he was the reason she lost her freedom. She wanted to give Emma a loving home but she has failed. Emma tells her she hasn’t failed. She is beginning to realise Ailsa is her only friend. They hug.