Episode 561

Extended Summary

Sally and Mullet are walking by the roadside, with Mullet chatting about how they need to practise every day in order to be pop stars. Sally isn’t sure about his ideas, since she wanted singing to be fun, and suggests they just do small acts like Carly’s wedding, but seems tempted by Mullet’s ideas of getting on TV and magazine covers. Back at the Jensen house, Paul and Lorraine are going out and Lorraine reminds Paul he’s supposed to finish his homework before practising his music. As they go outside, they see Sally and Mullet across the road and Lorraine is horrified by Mullet’s earring and hair gel. Mullet says he needs a new image if he’s going to be a pop star but Lorraine insists he gets rid of it.

At the Diner, Carly chats to Ben on the phone about spending the evening together. She tells Bobby that Ben won’t let anyone else drive his car so he keeps ferrying people everywhere. Don comes in and goes over to Adam at the counter, trying to convince him to stop the boxing match with Paul. Adam retorts that he isn’t interested in what Don thinks. That night, at the Fletcher house, Carly and Pippa both express their disapproval of the boxing match but Steven argues that the fight will be under controlled conditions and Ben agrees with him, saying it’s better than them having a back street brawl. Steven goes out to help Paul. Pippa asks to borrow Ben’s car so she can go shopping but Ben insists on driving her, disappointing Carly’s plans to spend time with him. At the surf club, Steven holds a punching bag for Paul and teaches him a few defensive moves. Emma turns up, having been told by Lorraine that Paul was there. Paul pretends he was practising the piano, despite being sweaty, and Steven leaves them to it. Emma asks why she hasn’t seen so much of Paul and he claims it’s because of his job and his music practise.

Next morning, at the Diner, Carly complains to Bobby about Ben going out again. Lorraine comes in for some change for the bus. Carly comments that she didn’t realise Paul was a fighter and Lorraine asks what she means. Steven and Paul are jogging on the beach but Paul has to stop because he has a stitch. Steven tries to get him to call off the fight, especially since he doesn’t want Lorraine and Emma to find out about it. Paul says he doesn’t want to be seen as a wimp but Steven says with that attitude he’ll always be getting into fights. Lorraine storms over and demands that Paul put a stop to the fight but he tells her she can’t tell him what to do.

Mullet is back at the Fletcher house and Pippa notes he’s ditched his new look (although he does seem to have acquired a baseball cap in addition to his usual clothes). Mullet still wants to be a pop star and wants to do it without Lorraine knowing, although Sally points out if he was one he wouldn’t be able to hide it. Mullet says he’s booked them extra dance lessons with Marilyn and drags her down to the beach house. Sally isn’t keen on the idea and wants to forget about it. Marilyn comes back in, in the middle of bleaching her hair, and Sally explains to Mullet that Marilyn isn’t really a blonde. Mullet looks as though he’s getting an idea.

Lorraine goes to see Don, who realises she’s there about the boxing match. He tells her he tried to talk to Adam but since the fight isn’t happening at school he can only talk to Paul, not give him a detention. He suggests Grant might have better luck getting through to Paul. Lorraine isn’t keen on the idea of involving him but agrees if it’ll stop the match. Meanwhile, at the beach house, Marilyn is teaching Sally and Mullet some pop star style dance moves, although they’re both rather stiff and tense, especially Mullet. Despite Sally being tired and Marilyn having to go to work, Mullet asks to carry on practising at the house and Marilyn agrees if they lock up and put the key back in its hiding place afterwards. Once she’s gone, Mullet heads to the bathroom and gets Marilyn’s hair dye; if he dyes his hair blonde, Lorraine won’t be able to change it back. Sally isn’t sure but agrees to help when Mullet suggests he could get another girl to do it.

Carly and Pippa are working on the seating arrangements for the wedding when Ben arrives back and Carly quickly drags him to the caravan for some alone time. The pair are kissing in the caravan when Pippa enters and tells them Alf wants the cake removed from his cool room. She offers to take Ben’s car and collect it but Ben insists on going himself so Carly is left helping Pippa with the seating plans again. Meanwhile, Sally has mixed up the dye for Mullet. Mullet suggests she could put streaks in her hair as well. Sally applies the paste to his hair. A short time later, Sally is waiting outside the bathroom where Mullet has locked himself in. After failing to coax him out, she warns him if he doesn’t show himself she’ll never talk to him again. Mullet emerges: There is a large red patch in the middle of his hair.

At the Diner, Bobby tries to get Adam to call off the fight but he continues to be stubborn. Paul and Emma come in and Adam begins making comments about how he’s going to slaughter Paul. Emma stands up to him but Paul persuades her to leave. Adam wonders why he was so quick to back off and Bobby realises Emma doesn’t know about the fight. Meanwhile, Don chats to Grant about Paul. Grant reminds Don he told him not to get involved with the family but agrees to help. Paul is playing the piano for Emma at the surf club. He asks her if Adam still loves her but Emma doesn’t think he ever did. Grant comes in and tries to talk to Paul about the boxing match. Emma is horrified at what she’s hearing and disgusted with Paul, storming out. Realising he’s put his foot in it, Grant tries to apologise but Paul tells him to stay out of his business and storms out as well.