Episode 508

Extended Summary

Tom, Pippa, Carly and Sally are having breakfast when Sophie comes down late. When they mention her being late to school, Sophie notes she hasn’t been at a school for a while. Carly wonders how she managed to keep up and Sally suggests it’s because she’s clever. Mullet arrives and, despite Sally pointing out he’s already had breakfast, Pippa tells him to sit down and have some toast. Sally and Mullet tell them they’re going to catch some fish for the Fletchers to have for dinner that night and Pippa says if Mullet is providing the food he should join them. Sally and Mullet head off for school, followed by Sophie. Pippa notes she’ll have some frozen food ready in case they don’t catch anything.

Grant runs into Sophie in the corridor and asks if she’s prepared to read her essay. Don comes over and tells Sophie her last school didn’t have her records. Sophie says she was only there three weeks and was only at the previous one a few days. Don asks for a list of all the schools she’s attended. Sophie says she’s been at ten schools since Year 7 but Don persists. Later, Grant’s class are reading out their essays. Grant asks Sophie to go next but when he goes to give her her essay he can’t find it. He asks for another student to go instead.

At the Diner, Carly is experiencing wedding nerves and Ailsa worries about having to cater for two different nationalities. When Pippa makes a comment about Celia playing the wedding march, Ailsa tells them about her plans to go to Africa as a volunteer. At the store, Celia is trying to give Alf power of attorney in her absence but he refuses and thinks she’s been brainwashed, saying she belongs in Summer Bay with her family. Celia says she doesn’t anymore but Alf refuses to listen or to sign the papers.

In Don’s class, one of the students, Julie, is reading to the class. Don asks Sophie to follow her. Sophie stands at the front of the class and fumbles with her book until the bell goes. Don tells her she’ll be first up the following day. Grant comes in and wonders if he’s seen the missing essay. Don thinks there’s something up with Sophie but he can’t put his finger on it. Celia goes to the Diner and briefly chats with Carly before going to talk to Ailsa in the kitchen. She asks Ailsa to help Alf see how important going to Africa is for her. Ailsa isn’t convinced herself and wonders why Celia wants to go. Celia says she’s never really helped anyone; people in Summer Bay have food and homes whilst people in Africa are dying. Ailsa points out she’s done charity work but Celia says she’s never given of herself and needs to help people less fortunate than herself or she’ll never be at peace.

Sally and Mullet cast their line into the river. Mullet lies back to wait but Sally is soon bored and doesn’t think they’re going to catch any fish. She goes off to pick some flowers instead.

Sophie suggests to Tom and Pippa that she should leave school and get a job, since it’s costing them to keep her. They point out they get an allowance and assure her it’s no trouble. Tom wonders if she’s having trouble at school but Sophie insists she isn’t. She goes up to her room and tries to read the passage Don has assigned her but ends up giving up in frustration.

Sally re-joins Mullet with a hand full of flowers and finds he hasn’t caught anything. She worries that everyone’s expecting food and they haven’t got anything but Mullet has an idea. Shortly after, the pair present Tom and Pippa with a crab. Tom is surprised they caught it without a crab pod but Mullet says they just saw it wandering along the mudflats. He says all the fish they caught were too small so they threw them back. Sophie comes in and Tom extols the virtues of crab and lemon juice. Pippa realises they haven’t got any lemons so Tom heads out to get some. While Pippa busies herself preparing it, Sally looks unhappy.

At the Diner, Alf moans about Celia. Carly says she can’t see Celia going to Africa but Alf thinks she’ll change her mind soon. Ailsa tells him that Celia’s explained her reasons and she understands them. Alf thinks Goodhope has conned her but Ailsa says Celia has tried to explain to him why she’s going and he won’t listen. Alf admits he’s worried about her but accepts when Ailsa says that they can’t judge how Celia wants to live her life. Alf decides to check his crab pots and then head back to the store.

Tom is buying some lemons off Celia when Alf comes in, grumbling that someone has stolen Claws, the crab he was feeding up in his crab pot. He moans that he’s probably on someone else’s dinner plate now. Tom looks awkward and tries to beat a hasty retreat, nearly leaving the lemons behind. Alf asks if he’s having a seafood dinner and Tom claims it’s for lemon meringue pie. Back at the house, Pippa and Carly are preparing Claws for eating while Sophie says she’s not feeling well. Sally doesn’t seem happy about things. Tom turns up and tells them Alf was in a bad mood, asking Sally and Mullet if they know why. He tells them about Claws going missing and Pippa, Carly and Sophie realise what’s going on. Tom tells Sally and Mullet they have to tell Alf what they did in the morning. Carly comments they’ll be having the frozen food after all.

At the store, Alf is stocking shelves while Celia is sorting out the books. She suggests he tells the police about Claws but Alf thinks it won’t change anything. He admits that he’s worried about her going to Africa. Celia says Africa isn’t as primitive as people think and she’s made up her mind. Alf says he envies her finding something she’s passionate about and he won’t stand in her way. He hugs her and tells her he’ll miss her.