Episode 548

Extended Summary

At the restaurant, Bobby watches on as Chris and Geoff argue. Chris says Geoff should realise he’s not welcome and leave but Geoff thinks Chris should. They both decide to pay the bill and take Bobby somewhere else but Bobby is tired of being fought over; she leaves the money to pay for her drinks and walks out. Meanwhile, Pippa is testing Steven with road safety questions but he already knows all the answers. Don arrives and tells Pippa he’s going to Yabbie Creek if she wants anything. Steven is confident he can get his driving license but Pippa tells him it’s not just a case of going to Motor Industries and getting one, he needs lessons. Don offers to teach him, since he was going to teach Viv, and arranges to meet him at ten o’clock the following morning. He notices Bobby’s clothes and Pippa says she was altering them. Don wonders if she knows anything about Bobby, since she’s being secretive. Pippa says she’s not like that with her.

Adam is leading Emma through the woods for her surprise and, although she complains about the distance, she seems to be intrigued and looking forward to it. Adam takes her to a small rowing boat and rows them both out to a deserted spot where he has set up a picnic table and a tape deck playing romantic music. Emma is pleased and Adam tells her things will be different from now on.

Bobby arrives home, still carrying the flowers Chris gave her, and tries to sneak into her room but Don sees her from the lounge. He shows her the clothes he brought back from Pippa’s and Bobby goes along with her story. She claims she just fancied getting dressed up and gets defensive about Don’s questions, storming off to her room. Back at their picnic spot, Adam tells Emma he knows he’s been a jerk lately but doesn’t want to lose her and is going to make it up to her. He keeps getting bitten by mosquitoes and Emma says it was a nice idea but they should get going. They then discover their boat has drifted off into the middle of the river and Adam realises he needs to swim out and get it. Soon after, they arrive back at the Stewart house; Adam is dripping wet and Emma is wet too since she was splashed when Adam dived in. Despite this, Emma is pleased with his effort and confirms they are still going out. Alf comes in and protests that he thought Adam was smartening himself up, prompting them both to burst out laughing. Alf leaves them alone and Adam gives Emma a kiss goodbye before going to get changed.

At the caravan park house, Steven protests that he doesn’t need anyone to teach him to drive, since Tom let him drive around the caravan park lots of times. Pippa tells him that’s different from driving on the road and suspects it’s Don teaching him that’s the problem. Steven admits that he’s worried how his classmates will react to seeing him with the headmaster but Pippa says Don probably thinks they need help with Tom gone.

At the Stewart house, Emma comes back in dressed in a dressing gown and towel. She comments to Alf about how filthy the water was and Alf reflects on how it was clean enough to swim in when he was young. He admits he wasn’t happy seeing her and Adam back together. Emma insists he’s changed but Alf thinks she can do better. At the beach house, Adam tells Matt it worked. Matt thinks Adam is missing the point; it shouldn’t be about turning the romance on for a bit to get what he wants, it should be about wanting to make Emma happy. Adam insists he does: He likes her and if the romance is what’s needed to keep her then he’ll do it.

Next morning, Alf is on the phone to Ailsa, telling her he’s using Steven to distract Emma and Ailsa should stay away as long as she needs to. After he’s hung up, Pippa arrives with some left over pot roast and catches up about Ailsa, noting it’s not easy on her. Pippa thanks Alf for getting Emma to help Steven and Alf notes she’s still down about Bridget and he isn’t happy about her seeing Adam. Pippa tells him he can’t interfere and Alf agrees he learnt that lesson with Roo. He notes that they’re both going to have to go through it all again with Christopher and Duncan. Pippa goes round to see Bobby at the Diner and tells her about Don’s visit. Bobby tells her about the date being a disaster with both of them turning up. At that moment, Chris appears in the doorway and says they both acted like jerks and he hopes she’ll give him the chance to apologise.

Don and Steven are sat in a car at the caravan park. Don is telling Steven the checklist of things to do before setting off which he refers to as SMILE: Seatbelt Mirror Indicator Lever Engine. Seeming rather bored, Steven carries out the checklist and sets off a lot smoother than Don was expecting. At the Diner, Chris tells Bobby they got off to a bad start but he wants to get to know her. Bobby says she’s working and she was going to go shopping in her break. Chris offers to drive her and says he’ll wait outside. Bobby isn’t entirely happy but Pippa reminds her she wanted some romance and excitement in her life.

Don continues to give Steven instructions as they drive and eventually tells him to pull over, since they’re approaching a main road. He swaps places with him and tells him to observe him for a while. As he pulls out, a motorcycle policeman down the road sees him and charges after him, sounding his siren. Steven arrives home and tells Pippa that Donald forgot to SMILE: He was so busy giving him instructions he didn’t indicate when he pulled out and was given a ticket. Steven notes he’ll have to get a new driving instructor since Donald has lost interest. Both of them find the situation amusing.

Bobby arrives home with Chris helping her with the shopping bags. He notes he’s old fashioned about helping ladies and invites her out for dinner. Don appears, with his driving lesson cut short, and Bobby tells him Chris is a friend, with Chris saying he gave her a lift back from the Diner. Don says it must be her day for unexpected guests and beckons Geoff in. Bobby looks unhappy.