Episode 5194

Episode Title: Pepper Staked
Episode Number: 5194
Australian air date: Thursday 19th April 2007
UK air date:
Writer: Linda Stainton
Director: Jet Wilkinson
Quotes: Pepper Steiger.
Guests: Marey Casey (Rowena Wallace), Tom Scully (Andrew Larkins).

  

Pepper is convinced to return to work as Tom Scully calls at number 30 as the pricinple of Erinsborough High. He is backed by Lolly, Rachel and Ringo who nod as Tom states that Pepper is highly recommended. She enjoys the compliments and agrees to come back to work immediately. Pepper puts her foot in it as she gushes about Tom to Susan who she calls on to tell the good news. Zeke and Rachel attempt to warn Pepper about the blunder but she continues regardless. She eventually stops and asks why Rachel and Zeke were waving frantically. Susan tries to brush aside their actions however Zeke blurts out that Susan had a fling with Tom Scully much to Pepper’s shock. She attempts to apologise for her words and ends up fleeing from the scene as she fails to dig her wait out of the hole she got herself into. She later musters her courage and returns to apologise to Susan. Susan laughs with Pepper and tells her that everything is fine. Pepper begins work the following day and sets the class project for her students. They will help Tom get into shape, documenting his progress scientifically to create work for the PE assessment. During recess, Pepper gets a call from Mary Casey. Mary adopts a timid personality as she addresses Pepper and Pepper is moved by the act and suggests that she should visit Mary on her way home. Mary maintains the illusion once Pepper arrives. She slips slightly as she speaks firmly about how her son would never have hurt Pepper. Mary explains that she has baked a special walnut cake for Pepper and rushes inside her house to fetch it along with a pot of tea. Pepper is left to eat the cake herself as Mary points out that she is allergic to walnuts. Pepper fails to make inroads into her slice as she receives a text from Rosie asking for her support. Mary gets agitated as Pepper suggest that she should leave. As it looks unlikely the cake will be consumed, Mary begins to sob and asks Pepper to stay for a while longer to eat. Pepper relents and bites into the cake as Mary looks on with pleasure.

Rachel finds herself wrongly accusing Lolly again as Ringo and Lolly continue to spend much of their free time together. Keen to push aside speculation over her romantic feelings for Ringo, Lolly encourages her friend to cook Rachel a special meal. She and Rosetta agree to help as Ringo points out he can’t cook and the three of them spend an evening preparing for the date. Ringo invites Rachel by calling at number 28 in a suit and tie. He presents Rachel with a silver platter and a note asking her to dinner. The gesture impresses Susan who suggests Ringo would make great step son material. Ringo and Rachel are left alone in the kitchen of number 30 as they eat their meal. Rachel hesitates as she smells the food in her bowl. She suggests that it contains fish which she is allergic too. Ringo points out that he expressly asked Lolly who told him it didn’t. Rachel tastes a bit of the food and informs him that it does and decides it’s a deliberate attack by Lolly. Ringo attempts to brush away the accusation and Rosetta enters the kitchen as she hears the raised voices. Rosetta explains that it was her who added in the fish oil into the dish having been left to tend to it as Lolly returned home. Ringo is pleased to have sorted things out and it proves yet again that Lolly isn’t a threat to their relationship. Rachel states that she now owes Lolly a huge apology.

Zeke worries about visiting Frazer. He admits to Susan that he feels unsure about what to say to his friend now that he’s wheelchair bound. Susan points out that Frazer will be happy to see him but her words don’t alleviate Zeke’s concerns. He finds himself unable to enter Frazer’s hospital room and it’s left to Pepper to encourage him to talk to Frazer. Frazer is open and honest about his injuries and Zeke quickly looses his tension. Frazer tells Zeke that he has little feeling and may never walk again. His continued optimism impresses Zeke. Frazer’s confidence is dented as Rosetta visits. He mentions that he has a stage do to attend as Rosetta suggests that arrange a meal for the following evening. As Frazer explains that the event is for a friend he met in rehab Rosetta balks and dashes from the room.

Lolly’s criminal hearing takes place to decide her guilt after tampering with the breaks of the car she thought belonged to Sandy several weeks ago. Whilst Lolly was under a lot of stress at the time having to deal with Sandy’s abuse in silence, her actions resulted in a near miss for Boyd and Glenn and so the event was looked into. Lou accompanies Lolly and Rosetta to the hearing. He is confident Lolly will be found innocent thanks in part to Lolly leaving toning down the seriousness of the charges involved. Lolly is given a sentence of 100 hours community service. Lolly finds herself admitting the truth as Lou suggests it was Rosie’s inexperience that led to the sentence. She also tells Lou that she has been getting advice from Rosetta rather than attending the counselling sessions he had arranged after Sandy’s abuse was revealed.

Tom and Susan agree to put their differences to one side after their heated argument after the first day of Tom working as the principle of Erinsborough High. Tom apologises for suggesting that Susan gives him her resignation and she apologises for dismissing his classroom changes. They settle back into the close friendship they shared. Susan admits that she misses Lyn but she draws boundaries of the friendship as Tom mentions Karl’s absence and baby Holly Hoyland.