Episode 542

Extended Summary

Alf desperately tries to get Marilyn to leave so he can go back to bed and read the paper in peace. Marilyn says being his nurse is the least she can do seeing as it’s her fault he has chickenpox and she’s not leaving.

Ben carries bits of the new bedroom suite into Summer Bay House and Sally thinks Carly is going to hate it! Steven and Viv tell Sally there’s someone to see her. Sally says he’s not speaking to Murray again as long as she lives, but it’s actually Tammy. Pippa agrees to watch Tammy while Viv is at school. Steven, Viv and Sally leave for school. Murray catches up with Sally and asks if he can talk to her as he needs to explain but Sally yells at him; she doesn’t like liars.

Marilyn finishes cleaning and makes a fuss over getting Alf’s breakfast. Alf looks up and asks for strength!

Tammy is talking to Ben while he puts the bed together so he gets her to help. They talk about the wedding and Ben’s large family. Tammy says it sounds like a lot of fun. She hopes the people who take her and Viv let them have fun.

Pippa is at the Diner and Carly is fishing for information about Ben’s surprise; is it clothes or jewellery? Pippa refuses to say but Carly asks if it’s something personal. Pippa says yes and Carly gets excited.

Alf gets annoyed with Marilyn for vacuuming while he’s trying to eat his breakfast and read the paper; he’s perfectly capable of looking after himself. Marilyn stops him scratching his spots but it’s the last straw for Alf and he gives her 10 seconds to get out. Marilyn bursts into tears and Alf apologises. Marilyn says she just didn’t want him to be lonely like she was.

Pippa and Carly are back home but Ben refuses to let Carly see the surprise. Tammy wants to go fishing as it looks like fun but Sally isn’t keen. Pippa suggests asking Murray to take her fishing but Sally wants to go and feed the horses instead. Pippa sends Tammy to water some plants and tells Sally she can understand why Murray lied to her; he’s probably embarrassed because they don’t have much money. The girls find Murray at the Diner and Sally asks Murray to take Tammy fishing. Murray is disappointed Sally isn’t coming but Sally says they need a private talk first.

Donald finds Steven and Viv kissing in the living room. Steven leaves to get changed as they’re going to the movies later. Donald tells Viv he’s had a call; her father has allowed her and Tammy to be made wards of the state. They are now looking to place both of them into care. He tells Viv that having her here has been a rewarding experience; he loves her and is going to miss her very much.

Sally returns to the house and Carly and Steven tease her about leaving Murray and Tammy alone; she might steal him away from her! Ben appears with a blindfold and takes Carly upstairs. Carly struggles to be enthusiastic about the bed.

Bobby brings a pie round for Alf but Marilyn is making asparagus and corn vol-au-vents. Alf looks mildly horrified and sneaks a slice of pie. Bobby teases Alf about Marilyn; there will be headlines about a council candidate shacking up with a young woman. Alf thinks he’ll win the sympathy vote when people find out who the young woman is! He worries Ernie Jacobs will think he’s won. They could send Marilyn over to give him a case of chickenpox… or cook for him!

Donald tells Viv and Steven not to be too late home and leaves for a meeting. Steven asks how long Donald will be gone and suggests they could stay home but Viv wants to go into the city instead. Steven says he hasn’t got enough money but Viv tells him to leave it up to her.

Sally is upset that she’s hardly seen Tammy all day but Pippa reminds her she could have gone fishing too. She sneaks out as Carly comes in Carly moans to Pippa about the bed and Pippa is proud of her for her Oscar-worthy performance earlier! Unfortunately Ben overhears everything.

By the river, Tammy has caught four fish. Murray thinks it’s getting late but he’s forgotten his watch and says Sally thinks he’s hopeless. Tammy comments how he likes Sally a lot and asks him why he thinks she never wants to see him again. Murray tells Tammy he lied to her because he didn’t think she would like his house. Sally approaches and sees Tammy put her arm around Murray.