Episode 4731

Extended Summary

Rachel has been depressed and worried since losing Joe, and Tony suggests they start planning their wedding to take her mind off things. She appreciates the thought, but after the business with Melody and her mother, Rachel has begun to wonder if Dane is a fit parent for Joe, and if they should take Joe away. Tony understands how much she cares, but doesn’t think they have the right.

Belle’s more driven than ever to get to the bottom of the toxic waste mystery. Tim, the foreman, sees her taking pictures of the site from outside, and the specific attention she gives the unwitting Aden as he works, and begins to wonder if they have a connection. Belle then goes to the council, pretending to be a journalist after a look at old council files from the time of the dump, but she’s turned away.

Alf then suggests she go and speak directly to a man he knows, who’s now in charge of council records, and tell him Alf sent her. He’s no help, but Belle waits till he leaves the room, and sneaks in to search. To her confusion, all records from the year of the toxic waste dump are missing. Then, after work, Tim warns Aden that he had better be sure that he didn’t just take the job to cause trouble and to help Belle.

Melody is still set on divorcing her mother, and Christine is furious. Refusing to accept the gravity of what she did to Melody, she’s on a warpath, blaming Morag, Miles, Geoff, everyone but herself. Then, deciding to take a different tact, Christine drags Edward along to tell Melody they’re not getting divorced after all, because divorce is wrong, and families should stay together. But far from being taken in, Melody is disgusted that her mother would sink so low, and that her father would let her.

Then later, as Melody walks along, Christine’s car pulls up beside her, and she’s pulled inside. Her mother is actually kidnapping her! Geoff chases but can not catch up with them.