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From hospital, Stephen phones Fiona and tells her
she's a grandmother - it's a little girl, and she's got
lovely black hair. Fiona is overjoyed. She asks if Jill is fighting fit. Stephen
tells her not exactly - it
was a difficult birth, as the labour pains started when she was out showing
Robin the local beauty spots.
He adds that Robin had to deliver the child, but everything is all right.
Fiona asks him to tell Jill she'll
be there as soon as possible. Stephen says he'll pick her up at the airport.
After he hangs up, the doctor
comes out. Stephen asks him if Jill's baby is any better. The doctor replies
that her breathing is a lot
better now they've got her in a humidicrib, but it's too soon to say whether
she'll survive. He explains
that her lungs weren't properly formed when she was born and, even if they
can stabilise her breathing,
there's a high risk of heart failure or she could develop a lung infection.
Stephen asks if he's told Jill
and the doctor says he has.
In Jill's room, Robin gives her a bunch of flowers. Stephen comes in and tells
Jill that Fiona is on her
way. He tells Jill that he never said anything to worry Fiona. Jill says she's
as bad as Robin - the least
little thing sends her into a panic.
Later,
in the corridor, Robin tells Stephen that Jill could get better treatment
in the city. Jill comes out
with a nurse and Robin tells her he'll be leaving soon. She thanks him for
looking after her. The nurse
takes Jill back to bed. Robin says he's glad he's getting away - he couldn't
handle having to pretend that
everything's fine. He adds that losing a baby must be the worst thing a woman
has to go through. Stephen
tells him he can remember what a thrill it was when Caroline told him she
was expecting their first child.
He says they were just like Wayne and Amanda - buying toys and making plans.
Robin looks guilty, and
says he'd never thought about it like that.
Later, Stephen and Robin are back at the house.
Stephen puts down the phone and tells Robin there's no
change with the baby. Robin tells him it's been the best and worst day of
his life, and a real eye-opener
for him. Stephen suggests they have dinner over at the guest house. Robin
says he has to go to Sydney, to
clear the decks so he can go to Melbourne. He gives Stephen a phone number
if he has any news about the
baby and tells him to try Wayne's number as well. He explains that he and
Wayne are doing a project
together and he's got some good news for him.
The next morning at Toorak, Amanda answers the door to Robin and lets him
in. Robin asks her if Wayne's
there and she tells him he's out, but she's meeting him for lunch. Robin tells
her he's letting her off the
hook - she doesn't have to pretend she's pregnant anymore. Amanda is surprised
and tells him it's not like
him to walk away from a fortune. Robin apologises for being so callous - he
never stopped to think how she
must have felt, and would have to feel for the next seven months having to
pretend she's pregnant. Amanda
asks him why he's thinking about it now, and Robin tells her that yesterday
he had to deliver Jill's baby.
He adds that, when he saw how it made her feel, it started him thinking. Amanda
asks about Patricia.
Robin tells her she'll have to find some other way to make money. He explains
that Patricia doesn't know
the name of the doctor he called when she miscarried, and without that she
can't prove that they've taken
Dee's money under false pretences. Amanda smiles. She tells Robin she wants
the money back, but he says
he's keeping it. He goes to leave, telling Amanda she can pass on the good
news to Patricia. Amanda says
it will be a pleasure. Robin tells her, when she's expecting again, to take
care of herself.
Later, Amanda has told Patricia the good news.
Patricia tells her she won't let Robin get away with it.
Amanda tells her that Robin's got the evidence to put them in prison, not
her. She asks Patricia how it
feels to have ended up with nothing - no money, no home and no husband. Patricia
tells her to shut up.
Amanda says she's off to tell Wayne the good news, and tells Patricia to be
out of there when they get
back. She leaves. Patricia gets on the phone and calls directory enquiries,
asking them for the number of
a Perth women's prison.
Later, Robin arrives at Toorak, telling Patricia that her message was waiting
for him when he got back
to the motel. He tells her he's not going to change his mind. Patricia says
she thinks he might, but Robin says
not a chance - not after what happened yesterday. Patricia tells him to spare
her all the sentimental
claptrap - she's heard all that from Amanda. She tells Robin his wife knows
where he is, and she's really
looking forward to seeing him. Robin is shocked, and tells her she's kidding.
Patricia says she isn't. She tells
him he can't afford the finer feelings now - he's going to need the extra
money to buy his wife off. She
says that if he's got any sense, he'll fob her off with part of what he stands
to make, and keep the rest
himself. Robin tells her his wife can have the lot if it'll get her off his
back. He goes to leave, but Patricia
asks him for the name of the doctor. Robin writes it down, and Patricia tells
him she'll check it to make sure
it's right. Robin asks if he can go now, but Patricia shakes her head, saying
that somebody has to break the
news to Wayne and Amanda. Robin tells her not him. Patricia tells him that
he caused the trouble - he can
fix it. Robin tells her that, when he first met her, he thought she had everything
going for her - beauty,
brains, but it's a pity about the part that counts most. Patricia stares at
him and walks out.
MICHAEL
LONG (as Stephen Morrell), PAT McDONALD (Fiona Thompson), KIM LEWIS (Jill
O'Donnell),
SCOTT McGREGOR (Robin Elliott), ALYCE PLATT (Amanda Morrell), ROWENA WALLACE
(Patricia Morrell)
Written
by MAUREEN ANN MORAN
Directed by MARK PIPER
Channel
Five broadcast: Sunday 24th November 2002