Packed To The Rafters

Rita is expected to arrive at Carbo and Retta's engagement party, and nerves are at an all time high. Coby confides in Jake that he is struggling with Rachel moving in fulltime, and Ben's positive facade is questioned when his emotions bubble to the surface.

When Jake and Coby head off for a rugby weekend, Rachel finds the key to Coby's garage and is shocked by what she finds. Meanwhile, Carbo is tired of Rita's behaviour and decides to put a stop to it. Then, Dave senses an underlying tension between Ben and Nathan. What happened on the road trip to affect the brothers so badly? Guest starring Dina Panozzo.

Rachel is furious with Jake when he comes clean about the secret he has been hiding. Meanwhile, Carbo and Retta are exhausted as Rita's loneliness gets the better of everyone. Then, Coby acts out when Rachel admits that she has seen his artwork. Will she ever be able to regain his trust again?

Rachel vows to support Jake after he is charged for attempted sexual assault, but is she just making matters worse? Meanwhile, Coby hasn't forgiven Rachel for betraying his trust, and elsewhere, Ted reveals that he is learning another language in order to forge a connection with a woman he is attracted to. Then, Julie unexpectedly crosses paths with Hamish.

Nathan examines what it means to be free when he receives upsetting news. Meanwhile, Ben, influenced by his little brother's infectious optimism, makes a headlong rush at freedom, which doesn't turn out for the best. Then, Coby grapples with the issue of freedom as the day of his hearing arrives. Guest starring Merridy Eastman and Martin Lynes.

Jake risks everything by returning to the scene of the alleged attempted rape to confront Jodi. Has Jake made the right decision, or will the confrontation land him in more hot water? Meanwhile, when Nathan doesn't have much luck getting attention for his Parts Exchange website, Ben endeavours to help him, but for ulterior reasons.

Rachel's doubts are intensified as she visits Jake to invite him to her farewell dinner. One thing leads to another and the invitation inevitably turns into a moment of good-bye passion. With Rachel now confused, Nathan convinces her she's made the right decision and she'll regret it forever if she doesn't go.

Dave relishes finally having a relationship with his dad, Tom, despite Julie's reservations about her recently paroled father-in-law. Julie raises concerns that Tom may not have reformed his crooked ways. Next door there is tension in the air between the boys, stemming from Carbo's hurt feelings at having not been asked to be a part of Nathan's fledgling car spares business.

The comic rivalry between Ted and Tom continues. Ted's convinced Tom isn't looking for work at all, instead sneaking off to spend time with an unknown lady friend. A distraught Hamish arrives on Julie's doorstep, snapping under the strain of his custody battle, and Julie's forced to defuse a potentially life-changing situation.

Julie finds herself out of her comfort zone when she attends a burlesque dance class with new friend Donna. Dave comes across some lingerie that Julie has bought for her performance, but when she doesn't wear it, he is left feeling jealous and insecure about her relationship with Hamish.

Grace tells her sons Jake and Alex that she's engaged, and both boys are happy for her until they find out that she has never actually divorced their father. Things become complicated when Grace meets with her ex-husband, as Alex is adamant he never wants to see his father again but Jake's curiosity is restless.

Julie's new friendship with Donna is tested when she discovers that Donna suffers from OCD disorder. While Ben and Emma's friendship goes from strength to strength, Ben also forges a new connection with Tom. Determined to help clear the air between Coby and Bree, Jake invites her to dinner at their house, to Coby's irritation.

Dave's successful friend Warney offers him a shot at the contract for a big office rewiring job, and Dave leaps at the chance. But blinded by ambition, Dave ignores the fact that he doesn't have a hope of getting the job done in time. Tom encourages Ben to consider opening up his own bar and offers to help him organise the finances.

Ben opens up to Emma about Melissa's death, and the cathartic experience enables him to finally get some closure. Determined to expand the family business, Dave approaches Nathan and asks him to re-join the family business. When Alex's attentions become too much, Bree is forced let him down gently.

Ben initiates a night on the town with the boys and everyone is impressed by the upmarket nightclub he takes them to. After the VIP treatment, Ben reveals that Tom put him in touch with Chris, a nightclub owner, who is courting Ben as a potential investor in his next business venture, causing alarm bells to immediately sound for Nathan.

Everybody is up in arms about Tom's disappearance with the insurance money. Coby is particularly gutted, secretly blaming himself for not being honest with the Rafters about Tom's part in the worksite robberies. But will Coby dig his own grave by coming clean with Dave and Julie?

Julie convinces Dave to attend the annual electricians' trade awards, but when Dave runs into Warney, who has been nominated for a big award, he is reminded what a small time suburban sparkie he is. But a chance meeting with developer Gordon Weaver could reverse Dave's fortunes. Julie comes into contact with Matt Jennings, an affable and flirtatious taxi driver.

Dave's increasingly exhausted as the demands of his new job take their toll, and for the first time in his life he forgets his anniversary. Meanwhile, Ben receives a chilling nudge in the right direction.

Ted resolves to take a leap of faith and seize life with both hands. But as his best laid plans are put to waste, is his leap destined to become a stumble? Ben agrees to go to the movies with Emma, but asks Nathan and Coby to join them to relieve the pressure of the evening feeling like a date. However, Coby's terrible cinema etiquette and embarrassing antics causes Ben to eject the boys.

Tonight in a dramatic episode of Packed To The Rafters, Dave and Julie discover how one inexplicable chain of events can almost end in disaster. Dave is alone with Ruby when he gets a call requiring his presence back on site. With no babysitter, Dave takes Ruby with him and enlists Coby to look after her. For a brief moment Coby takes his eyes off Ruby and she wanders into the building site.

When Ben and Retta discover Carbo sleepwalking due to wedding stress, they decide he must tell his parents he's already married before he hurts himself. But Carbo receives an unwelcome surprise when Rita and Theo arrive early. Suddenly admitting the truth isn't so easy and Ben is left to prepare a fake buck's party. Will they be able to deceive Rita and Theo, or will the lie unravel?

When Carbo and Retta return from the honeymoon from hell, Ben and Emma head out to a restaurant and enjoy a perfect evening. But the shine of the night fades when Emma sees that Ben is still carrying a photo of Mel in his wallet. Julie ponders the natural cycle of endings and beginnings when she receives a response from the publishing house.