Episode 442

Extended Summary

Steven and Carly are upset that Tom is sleeping in on his first morning home. Pippa says Tom needs time to settle in. Alf arrives and Pippa says she’ll tell Tom he’s here but Alf says not to worry. He’s on his way to see “Crocodile Dundee”. Pippa has barely met Zac. Alf tells her to let him know if she needs him out of here and suggests he eat in his caravan, not the house. Pippa looks confused.

Alf finds Donohue talking to Zac as he washes his boat and says it’s typical. Donohue says it was his story that prompted some action in getting Zac here. Alf tells Zac not to speak to the press but Zac says until he gets his five grand he’s his own man. Alf slaps down $5,000 in notes and says he wants to see something for it.

Martin is complaining about his toothpaste having been squeezed in the middle but Lance tells him to hide because Alf and the shark hunter are coming over. Alf and Zac enter the mobile home and Martin drags Lance out of the kitchen to face them. Zac asks him what the shark looked like.

Alf is back at Summer Bay House telling Pippa that Lance’s description didn’t make much sense; he hopes it doesn’t turn out to be a lump of driftwood after paying $5,000. Alf leaves and Tom comes downstairs. He wants to go for a walk but bites Pippa’s head off when she suggests she join him. Steven bumps into Tom at the beach and tells him he missed him but Tom bites Steven’s head off too.

At the Diner, Pippa tells Ailsa that Tom doesn’t seem glad to be home and doesn’t want to talk to anyone. She doesn’t think he even wants to look at her. Ailsa says he probably just needs time but Pippa thinks there’s more to it.

Adam and Carly are kissing on the couch when Zac comes in, asking where to put his dirty bowl. Carly sarcastically says she would have thought a shark hunter could find the kitchen. Adam tells Zac he wants to help him find the shark because Rory was his mate but Zac tells him amateurs end up as the next victim… although he could come in handy as bait!

The hot dog stand is busy and Lance thinks it’s sick that everyone has come to see Zac catch the shark. Martin says the only sick thing is having to share the profits with the old witch (Celia) but after a couple of weeks of this they’ll be able to get her off their backs. A photographer asks where Lance saw the shark so he can get some shots but Lance sarcastically says he could have got some colourful shots if he’d been here when Rory was attacked. Martin tells Lance he’s got to stop insulting the customers. Lance says they’re out of hot dogs and Martin heads for the store as he has an idea to get Celia off their backs. Zac goes out in his boat and drops some bait.

Steven is back at the house and tells Carly he thinks Tom has psychological problems but Carly just makes fun of him and says Tom will be fine.

Lance finds Donohue at the Diner and tells him Zac is being paid $5,000 up front and another $5,000 if he catches the shark, and all because Lance said he saw the shark… which he never did. Donohue says he saw it though and if Lance thinks he was lying he’s welcome to go and tell people the beach is safe and take the first swim.

Zac is lounging on the boat when the shark appears and bites the bait. Zac cuts the rope to let it go and says if Mr Macklin wants the shark to live that’s fine with him.

Pippa is dishing up dinner in the evening and Carly goes to take Zac’s to him. Steven wants to talk about Tom but Pippa says perhaps their expectations were too high. Zac lets Carly into his caravan and they trade insults. Zac thinks Carly is interested in him and grabs her and kisses her. Carly leaves, disgusted.

Martin comes home and tells Lance he’s found a way to get Celia off their backs. He’s done a deal with Kev Barnes at the Yabbie Creek supermarket to trade fresh hot dogs from Celia for cash and hot dogs that are nearly past their use by date… they’re OK so long as you cook them straight away! Lance is barely listening and confesses that he never saw the shark and doesn’t think Donohue did either. Martin stops him from going to tell Alf, reminding him how good business is at the moment.

Pippa, Carly and Steven finish eating and Carly says it’s Steven’s turn to collect Zac’s plate. Tom comes down and Carly is enthusiastic about using his exercise bike with him but Tom yells at her to give it a rest and heads back upstairs. Pippa follows him and Tom asks her what’s happening to him. He’s behaving like one of the kids. He admits he’s scared he won’t get to see Chris grow up or see what the rest of the kids are like in 20 years’ time. Pippa hugs him.