Neighbours

Toadie arrives with Sonya at the hospital as she is rushed off to theatre. Toadie’s shattered by the drama of Nell’s birth, while Callum works hard to look after his Dad. Toadie’s relieved to hear Sonya’s out of surgery but when Karl can’t confirm the health of the baby, Toadie’s worst fears resurface.

Shattered Toadie fears the worst as Sonya remains in surgery. However he’s so lost in his own pain, he’s oblivious to Callum’s upset until Susan urges him to pull himself together and be there for his son. Toadie steps up for Callum, and puts on a bright façade to support him through the ordeal. And thankfully, Sonya finally pulls through.

Ajay’s surprised Rani seems to be coping in the wake of Priya’s absence. However when he sees the pain and anger Rani’s holding onto towards her mother, he worries if he doesn’t do something about it soon, it may never end. Challenged by Toadie to put Rani’s interests ahead of his own, Ajay swallows his own anger and invites Priya to move back home.

Tash continues to enjoy her secret fling with Andrew but her guilt is piqued when she sees how much Andrew still means to sentimental Summer. Wanting her to hear about it from them rather than Facebook when she’s 10,000 miles away, Tash decides to tell Summer. However seeing how happy she is, Tash can’t bring herself to do it.

Tash continues to deny there is anything serious between her and Andrew but struggles to ignore her jealousy when Andrew shortlists only good-looking girls for a new position at Charlie’s. Feigning helpfulness, she volunteers to handle the girls’ trial period - and then drives them all to failure through sly sabotage. Covering her tracks, she reveals the only competent applicant was Sheila.

Rhys hides his concern from Vanessa and Lucas when he reveals their baby needs further tests. Oblivious to the severity of the situation, Vanessa and Lucas finally decide on a name for their baby and envisage their child’s future. However, Rhys’s worst fears are confirmed when the results show their baby has a potentially fatal heart condition.

Angry Lucas struggles to deal with his son’s diagnosis. Needing someone to blame, he lashes out at Rhys and demands a second opinion. But when the second opinion comes back confirming Rhys’s diagnosis, Lucas blames himself. Vanessa urges him to be strong for her so she can be strong for their son. Lucas vows to do just that as Rhys witnesses a tender moment between him and Vanessa.

Chris remains wary about his and Aidan’s issues, but gives Aidan the benefit of the doubt when he promises to be more open with him. However when Aidan clashes with a workmate during a social soccer game, he reverts to his old ways by hiding the conflict from Chris. Oblivious to this, Chris is confident Aidan’s following through on his promise until he learns the truth that Aidan’s lying to him.

Ajay hopes returning to work will give him a break from the tensions at home, only to discover he needs to take on a divorce settlement where the husband cheated on his wife. Despite Toadie’s efforts to protect him, Ajay insists he can handle it but finds his client repulsive. Unable to escape his own opinion of cheating partners, Ajay walks out on the meeting.

When Vanessa learns Patrick’s not responding to medication, she’s unable to appreciate Rhys’s support and chooses instead to keep a vigil by Patrick’s bedside, but when Rhys goes to great lengths to try and give her the break she needs, Vanessa reluctantly agrees to let him in a little. However she’s unable to engage with her fiance because she can’t stop worrying about her son.

Rhys struggles to give Vanessa space in the wake of their break-up. He wants to support her and when he sees Lucas considering selling the garage to support Vanessa through Patrick’s illness, he sees an opportunity to help. Rhys sets up a charity foundation to raise the money, selling his car to start the fundraising.

Susan and Carmel struggle to come up with a fundraising idea to help Vanessa with Patrick’s ongoing care, but when Karl offers to play a charity gig, Susan’s touched by his eagerness to help. Forced to work together, Susan’s feelings for Karl are rekindled, much to her own surprise. Choosing to explore these feelings, Susan spends more time with Karl and after an intimate dinner.

While Karl shuts down his clear feelings for Susan, confused Susan’s encouraged to discuss the situation with Karl. She’s hesitant until Tash unwittingly reminds her how important honest communication can be. However when Susan sees Karl on a date, she too pushes her feelings away – unaware Karl’s leaving his date because he wants to be with her.

When Andrew has to go to the hospital for blood tests, Tash assures him she can manage Charlie’s without him. But when Sonya breastfeeds Nell and a patron complains, Tash asks her to leave, offending her and unwittingly infringing upon her rights. When he returns to Charlie’s, Andrew is shocked to learn about the incident and tries to placate Sonya, but Sonya wants to make a formal complaint.

Andrew comes under pressure from Paul to fire Tash and end the breastfeeding scandal before it hits the papers, but he resists. Meanwhile, Tash gains some perspective into the situation, and comes to realise that she is indeed at fault. She offers Sonya a genuine apology. While Polly thinks it’s too little too late, Sonya has been given some perspective of her own after visiting Vanessa and Paul.

Karl confides in Ajay that he wants to reconcile with Susan, believing he knows Susan better than she knows herself – all he has to do is play his cards right and be patient, and she’ll fall right back into his arms. Susan, meanwhile, confides in Priya – all she wants from Karl is friendship. Karl persists with his plan, and he wins a night at Lassiters in the fundraiser raffle.

Doing her best to repair her relationship with her daughter, Priya’s lenient towards Rani at home, confident she’ll be afforded more respect at school. However, keen to make her mother pay, Rani pushes the boundaries at school, forcing Priya to make a choice about reprimanding her.

Georgia prepares to head back home to see her boyfriend Scotty at his mother’s birthday event. But for reasons even she doesn’t fully understand, she is reluctant to go. She comes across Kyle’s sausage sizzle fundraiser and suggests he hold a car wash to plump the coffers. Kyle agrees but insists she stay and help out too. Georgia is surprised to find herself feeling attracted to Kyle.

When Lou sees Lucas and Vanessa’s closeness at the hospital, he misinterprets the situation. Lucas sets him straight that they are not a couple. Lou challenges Lucas to finally be honest with Vanessa, believing that this is the right time. Lucas contemplates telling Vanessa how he feels.

Sonya is shocked to discover Lucas is pushing Vanessa to be with Rhys. She confronts Lucas, urging him to keep fighting but he won’t be swayed – insisting that if Vanessa loved him, she would have shown it by now. Sonya confides her frustration to Toadie but he warns her against interfering. Sonya struggles to take his advice and eventually pushes Vanessa to decide how she feels about Lucas.

As Patrick is rushed into surgery, Sonya learns that Lucas is convinced that Vanessa was about to reject his declaration of love. Sonya urges him not to jump to conclusions, but Lucas fears seem confirmed when Vanessa later avoids him. After Patrick comes through the operation, Georgia and Lucas convince Vanessa to take up residence in the family accommodation so she can rest.

Paul and Sarah finish their business, and despite Paul’s charm assault, she remains determined to leave town. Callum gets proof of Sarah’s presence when he sees Sarah by the lake and takes video footage of her on his phone. But when Sarah catches him she pays him off - asking him to keep her return a secret. Driven to Karl, Sarah asks him to meet her back at the hotel. Stunned, Karl agrees.

Shocked at seeing Karl with Sarah, Susan struggles to keep it together. Sarah’s attempt at an apology, for how she’s damaged their relationship, leaves Susan upset and quietly angry with Karl. To make matters worse, Paul reveals Sarah’s employers have insisted she spend her time at the Erinsborough News office. Susan’s reeling, but Toadie implores her not to blame Karl for Sarah’s return.

Paul is irate to discover graffiti about him sprayed across a wall at Lassiters. To make matters worse, he gets offside with the new policeman, Matt, who he later discovers is a new neighbour. Kate, meanwhile, puts two and two together, and realises that Rani must have been the graffiti culprit. Matt begins to investigate and his enquiries also point him in the direction of Rani.

Priya’s hopes for resurrecting her marriage are dashed when Ajay continues to refuse counseling. More tension erupts after Ajay learns Priya’s sought Paul’s help in dropping the charges against Rani. Frustrated by Paul’s ongoing involvement in their life, Ajay retreats to Charlie’s for a drink, where he runs into Phillipa, a woman he met in his karate class earlier in the day.