Episode 551

Extended Summary

At the beach house, Matt tells Adam there’s nothing in the fridge and Adam contemplates finding new things to do with baked beans. Marilyn returns home, having unsuccessfully tried to get a job at the resort, and wishes she had her job at the store back. Matt says what happened wasn’t her fault and Adam suggests he could get it back for her, dragging Matt with him. Meanwhile, Emma runs into Steven down by the beach and tells him about Paul having a go at her about taking his song. Steven admits that Carly told Paul and says she was trying to tell him that Emma liked him but he left before she could. At the Fletcher house, Carly complains about Ben entering them in the talent contest. She asks Sophie what she’s doing. Sophie says she’s just helping Grant out and storms off when Carly says she should perform. Sally tells Carly and Pippa about her and Mullet’s act, which Mullet still doesn’t know about.

Adam and Matt arrive at the store. Alf isn’t too keen to see them there and Adam protests that they paid for the damage and he needs customers now it’s out of tourist season. Alf points out he owns the only shop in town but agrees to serve them. Since they’ve got no money, Adam tells Matt to talk to Alf while he pretends to be shopping. Matt asks Alf how he’s handling being on his own and Alf says Pippa and Betty have been helping out. Matt tells him that Marilyn’s looking for work and Alf comments that she was a good worker. When Alf is distracted by a phone call, Adam grabs Matt and drags him out, saying they’ve found out what they needed to. Matt sees Ernie and hurries over to him, offering him the rent money. Ernie says he hasn’t got his receipt book and they can pay him tomorrow before driving off. Matt is suspicious and Adam suggests Ernie is being nice to try and get people to vote for him.

Steven and Emma go to the surf club looking for Paul but he isn’t there. Steven gets Emma to admit she likes Paul. He asks about Adam and Emma admits she likes him too but wants to break up with him. Steven suggests she should be honest with both of them but Emma suggests Steven talk to Paul instead. At the beach house, Adam tells Marilyn that Alf will give her her job back and a cautious Matt confirms Alf said she was a good worker. Adam tells Marilyn she should say whatever it takes to get the job back, including begging.

Sally helps Mullet with his homework at his house. Mullet is grateful and offers to help her out, so Sally tells him about the talent contest. Mullet doesn’t seem keen but agrees to give it a go. A short time later, at the Fletcher house, Sally and Ben demonstrate the song for everyone: Pippa and Christopher look slightly bemused, Carly and Sophie are giggling slightly and Mullet looks rather scared. Sally invites Mullet up to do it with her, reminding him he promised to do something for her, but as they’re about to start Mullet runs out. Sally shouts at him to come back but Carly points out if he can’t handle them watching he won’t be able to handle a big audience.

Steven is round at Paul’s and tells him that Emma likes him, just found the song and didn’t tell anyone about it apart from Carly. Mullet runs through, telling them that if Sally calls he isn’t there. Paul tries to get Steven to talk to Emma for him but Steven says Adam’s his friend too and Paul will have to handle it on his own. That night, Sally tries to phone Mullet but is told he’s out, although she thinks it’s not true. Pippa says some people have trouble performing in front of an audience and Sophie looks awkward. Carly suggests Ben and Sally perform together so she won’t have to but Ben points out he can be in both acts.

Next morning, Adam complains about having to buy new cleaning equipment because the old stuff gets worn out so quickly. Marilyn has put on a slightly revealing dress to go and see Alf. Matt tells her not to get her hopes up but Adam encourages her. After Marilyn has gone, Adam says he is going out to get some supplies for his magic act, borrowing Matt’s car. Meanwhile, Paul and Emma meet up near the Diner. Paul knows he got it wrong before and apologises and admits the song was for her. Emma says she liked it and asks him to play it for her one day. Adam drives up and tells Emma they need to pick the stuff up from Yabbie Creek and then rehearse. Emma says goodbye to Paul and heads off with Adam.

Alf asks Pippa to stay on at the store for a bit but she says she has to get back to the caravan park. Marilyn arrives and apologises for everything that happened but Alf tells her it wasn’t her fault. He mentions he’s heard about her job hunting and suggests she tries in Yabbie Creek. Pippa takes Alf aside and tells him it’s obvious Marilyn wants her job back. With some reluctance, Alf offers Marilyn the job and she happily retrieves her pinny. Later, Alf tells Marilyn she’s on a week’s probation and she’s not to give Matt or Adam credit. Ernie comes in and tells Alf he had a successful campaign meeting the previous night, glossing over the fact his wasn’t sabotaged. He then hands Marilyn an eviction letter, saying they haven’t paid the rent and have ten days to get out. Marilyn protests they tried to pay him but Ernie isn’t interested and also blames Alf for recommending them.

At the surf club, Adam and Emma look over their latest acquisitions, which Adam paid for with his credit card. Adam admits he doesn’t know how all the tricks work but says they come with instructions. Emma isn’t keen when Adam says he intends to saw her in half as part of the act, especially since it involves using a real saw. Adam suggests if he really sawed her in half he and Paul could share her and Emma denies that Paul likes her. Reading the instructions, Adam discovers they need another person. At the Jensen house, Mullet asks Paul about him playing the piano at school and whether he minded other people listening to him. Paul says once he concentrates on the music he forgets that other people are there.

Adam goes to the Diner and asks Carly for two hamburgers. He chats with Steven about the talent night, saying he needs a second assistant, and Steven still refuses to be drawn on what he’s doing. Adam asks Steven if Paul likes Emma and Steven claims he doesn’t. Meanwhile, Paul is playing the piano at the surf club when Emma comes through. She realises he was playing her song and says Adam has gone for some food and will probably be some time. She asks Paul to play the song again. Paul does so and as he plays the pair kiss…