Episode 4307

Extended Summary

A shaken and shocked Brad is still trying to process what happened, when he touches his head and realises it’s bleeding – he could’ve been killed! He rubs his neck in pain from the whiplash of hitting the steering wheel, before fumbling for his mobile and calling triple ‘0’. The police soon arrive and Brad tells them it was Johnny Cooper behind the wheel – he didn’t see him, but he just knows. He saw it was a green station wagon, but didn’t catch the plates. Brad is frustrated that there isn’t enough to nail Johnny with.

The next day, Sally finds Brad at the beach, staring out into the ocean. She asks why he didn’t call her – but he didn’t see what she could do to help. Sal sees his bruises – he hasn’t been to hospital and she can see how rattled he is and can’t believe how far Johnny has gone. She offers to put some cream on for his bruising, he eventually agrees and hobbles painfully along with Sally holding her arm out to support him. At Summer Bay House, Sally prepares a bowl of soapy water for his abrasions and gently applies the sponge to the cut on his forehead. He then removes his shirt so she can apply the cream to his bruises. As she tries to focus on the task at hand, her pulse quickens, aware of how close she’s standing. Suspended in the moment, about to kiss, they’re interrupted by Constable Fitzgerald who has arrived to let Brad know that Johnny has an alibi for last night and they can’t find the green station wagon – their hands are tied. Brad is fuming that Johnny’s got him where he wants. Sally calms him down again, applying the cream to his chest. Both their breathing falls into the same, shaky, charged rhythm – the attraction is fever-pitch. Finally Brad says that it’s stupid that they’re ignoring the tension.

Brad can’t stop thinking about her and it’s driving him crazy. Sally agrees she’s been the same. Where to from here? They agree they’re both relieved it’s out in the open, but a little terrified and weird at the same time. They are both keen to find out what’s around the corner – it’s the start of something, even if they don’t know what. Later, Brad smiles to himself as he twirls his wedding ring around his finger – and back at the house, Sally watches the video Flynn made for his funeral – the message for Sal, telling her that she shouldn’t deny her second chance at love. A sad but peaceful smile settles on her face – the time to move on has arrived.

A concerned Rachel checks on Lee’s condition – she’s still bleeding and needs to stay in hospital a few days. She asks Lee if she’d like to feed her baby – has she thought of a name for him yet? But Lee is adamant that she’s putting him up for adoption. Rachel tries to talk to her about the other options, but she’s not interested in discussing it. Lucas and Belle turn up to see Lee. He tries to talk her out of giving up the baby, saying he lost his mum when he was little and since then has felt a part of him’s been missing. Belle backs this up with having been adopted herself – how hard it was for her when she learned her life, as she knew it, was one big lie. Why did her mum want to give her away? The words have an affect on Lee, she’s clearly torn, then a nurse appears with the bundle in her arms – after much thought, Lee decides to feed him and it goes well, to her surprise, she’s tentative about the adoption idea – then Dane walks in. He glowers at Lee holding the baby and demands to know what’s going on – he thought she was ‘getting rid of it’? The others can’t believe this – what a jerk! Left alone with Lee, Dane makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the baby and if Lee is going to keep it, then he’s out of here. Later, Lucas and Belle return with magazines and a teddy bear for the bub. Lee opens up, sadly, revealing that Dane is all she’s got – Lee isn’t willing to risk losing him over the baby. Besides, they would make hopeless parents and have decided to move to Queensland without the bub. Lee wants the papers to make the adoption official – but Rachel tells her it’s too early and that she’s making the decision too fast.

Lucas tries to talk to Dane about the situation – but he tells Luc to get stuffed, then tells Lee to sort her mates out. He then reveals that the cops have found all the stolen gear at the warehouse he had with his mates and they have to move out of here – fast. Rachel, Lucas and Belle return to see Lee and can’t find her anywhere – Lucas finds a note from her – she’s left with Dane and the note says to “do whatever we have to do” with the baby. What the hell is she doing? Lucas can’t believe she’s done this – but right now Rachel is more concerned for Lee. She was still bleeding badly today, which means she could have a post-partum hemorrhage – if they don’t find her soon, she could die!