Episode 5199

Episode Title: How Swede It Is
Episode Number: 5199
Australian air date: Thursday 26th April 2007
UK air date:
Writer: Helen MacWhirter
Director: Tony Osicka
Quotes: None.
Guests: Tom Scully (Andrew Larkin), Charlotte Stone (Rachel Gordon), Simon Burns (Sam Lee), Grant Evans (Bruno Stepnell), Ted Nash (Stig Wemyss).

  

Steph finds herself posing as a Swede after an important client for Tim Collins and Associate’s calls at the Erinsborough branch of the law firm. Toadie is there to clinch the deal however the client seems more interested in Steph. Toadie had already given Steph a false background after the client had asked Toadie about the photo when they had met in Sydney. Toadie confesses to Steph that he lied as the truth at the time, that he was in love with a married women who had rejected him, was too painful to have told. The client insists on Stephanie joining him and Toadie as they hit the town prior to finalising the contract. Steph is reluctant to jump into the alternate persona Toadie had created for her, which is that of a Swede named Aseris. Toadie points out that Stephanie need only sit quietly as his client doesn’t speak Swedish, however Steph stick to her response and Toadie finds himself meeting with a disappointed client in the Lassiter dining room. Toadie is attempting to explain Steph’s absence when she appears in the dining room doorway. Her presence lightens the mood however Steph struggles to keep her resolve as Toadie’s client launches into various “blonde” jokes and laughs with his associate about stringing Toadie out to maximise the expense of wining and dining them. Eventually Stephanie snaps and, whilst alone with the client and his associate, she leans forward and speaks in plain English encouraging them to sign the contract and be done.

The awkwardness between Susan and Tom continues as they find themselves sleeping in the teacher’s tent together. They slip back into their close friendship quickly however Tom’s desire to have more from their relationship bubbles below the surface of their conversations. With someone to listen, Susan talks openly about her unhappiness that Karl has returned to the UK to spend time with Izzy and their baby Holly Hoyland. Susan lowers her guard as they talk and Tom turns the conversation towards the possibility of a romantic relationship between them. He leans close to Susan and her resolve wavers as he states again his wish to date her again. Susan makes her decision and retreats from the tent. The next day she tells Tom that she is returning to Ramsay Street having organised a replacement teacher to come out and supervise the camping trip.

Paul feels the aftershock of Elle’s betray as he desperately tries to regain his composure. He is turned away from staying in Lassiters by the staff that are operating under Elle and Oliver’s command. He suffers embarrassment as his credit card is refused at the Scarlet Bar by a delighted Steph who is satisfied at his downfall after the way he ended things with Lyn. Paul forms a plan and pleads with Dr. Stone to help him out. He proposes that Charlotte write a report declaring Paul is of unsound mind. This would render the contract he signed to give control of his assets to Elle void. Charlotte hesitates but Paul offers $100,000 pointing out that he knows the money will convince her.

Despite her relationship being back on track, Rachel still appears uneasy at the amount of time Ringo spends with Lolly. This isn’t helped by a secretive air between Ringo and Lolly after Lolly spots Susan and Tom’s closeness in the teacher’s tent as she visits the bathroom in the middle of the night. Whilst nothing passed between the two teachers, Lolly could only see their outlines through the tent wall and it seems the pair are kissing due to a trick of the light. Rachel sees Lolly and Ringo discussing this quickly and it unsettles her as she watches their closeness from afar. Ringo broods over the possibility that Susan is having an affair with Tom and he treats Susan with contempt as she attempts to supervise the students.