Episode Title: Keep The Ned Flag Flying
Cast: Ian Smith as Harold Bishop, Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson, Tom Oliver as Lou Carpenter, Alan Fletcher as Karl Kennedy, Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kinski, Caitlin Stasey as Rachel Kinski, Matthew Werkmeister as Zeke Kinski, Eliza Taylor-Cotter as Janae Timmins, Daniel O'Connor as Ned Parker, Nicky Whelan as Heidi 'Pepper' Steiger
Guest Cast: Bob Hornery as Tom Kennedy, Fletcher O’Leary as Mickey Gannon, Andy McPhee as Marty Rolfe, Hamish Sinclair as Matcham Rolfe
Recap
• Susan reassures Karl it is fine for Tom to believe Zeke is his son
• Rachel & Ringo find the kitchen at No 28 is on fire
• Janae is warmed by the bond Ned has with Mickey
Ramsay Street: Janae walks down the driveway at No.26 to see Mickey & Ned playing on the front lawn at No.22. Pepper interrupts her as she returns from a jog and asks how Janae is going getting ready to move north. Janae asks if she has time for a coffee and a chat.
No 30 - Kitchen: Janae asks after Adam but Pepper wants to change the subject. Janae switches the conversation to her dietary needs, as she is only a day and a half away from the boxing match, asking Pepper for advice instead of bothering Ned. Pepper explains she isn’t going to Cairns, which disappoints Janae, but Pepper mentions at least Janae has no ties to stay around…
No 22 - Lounge: Ned & Mickey continue to play around Paul who joins in until Ned notices Jake has chewed one of Elle’s shoes. Ned thinks Jake should live outside but Paul refuses to see it is necessary. Paul answers the front door to find Janae. Janae explains how the Timmins and her are going to Cairns to live for a while but Ned is shocked to hear she intends not to come back. She assures him his job at the garage is safe, as Chris has agreed to be manager. Mickey is deeply upset at her going.
No 28 - Lounge: Zeke feels he should have been around but Susan assures him he couldn’t have changed what happened. Karl arrives home depressed at the state of the nursing home Tom was at outside of visiting hours. Zeke suggests they get a nurse to look after Tom at home but Karl & Susan is still leaning towards looking for a new nursing home. Tom comes out from his room asking Karl about the last time a sheep was dipped but when Karl answers Tom gets angry pointing to Zeke to answer, not him. Zeke takes Tom to his room for a chess game. Susan checks on Rachel who is making a going away gift fro Bree. Susan questions if she is okay about Ringo and Rachel puts a brave face on things saying she is more worried about losing a good friend like Bree. Susan confides she is going to miss Janelle too.
No 22 - Lounge: Janae returns downstairs after a long time trying to get Mickey to sleep. Paul half jokingly tells Janae how much Mickey is going to miss her but she brushes it off. Ned tells her she is doing the right thing going with her family and a little put out Janae says goodnight and leaves. Paul suggests to Ned that he should tell Janae how he feels about her but Ned thinks there is no point, as she could never respect him after what he did to her family. Paul reminds him that he was responsible for that according to what he’s been told. Ned tells him he can never forgive himself and is grateful for having Janae as just a friend.
No 28 - Lounge: Rachel is up late still working on the gift for Bree when Zeke who cannot sleep either joins her. Zeke has to be convinced to give a gift to the box and they are both surprised when Tom comes out of his room. He recognises them and where he is and apologises to Zeke for calling him Karl. Tom spots the burn mark in the kitchen as Susan & Karl comes out of their room. Karl takes the opportunity to suggest Tom look at some brochures of nursing homes despite Zeke’s disapproval. Tom is caught off guard and feels he’s being pressured.
The General Store: Lou is shocked to learn from Harold about Loris but not convinced he should tell Janelle, as it would mean Loris would be ostracised from the family. Harold admits there is a part of him that selfishly wants Loris to return but they are interrupted by Pepper arriving. Lou hands over Adam’s watch to her and it brings back a flashback to a happier time with Adam. Pepper asks to keep hold of it in case Adam gets in contact.
No 22 - Kitchen: Mickey is desperately trying to wash his bed sheets and is caught by Paul. Mickey blames it on pilling orange juice and Paul avoids embarrassing the boy by playing along and gets him to put the sheets into the washing machine.
Paul pulls Ned to one side to tell him and suggests it is about Janae leaving that is causing it. Paul begs him to tell Janae how he feels to at least give her the chance to respond back. Ned tells him he will not. Janae arrives and sensing they were talking about her asks what is going on. Paul looks to Ned who tells Janae nothing is wrong. Paul walks off.
Community Hall: Pepper is helping out with the kids at the holiday activities being held for the primary school kids, directing a group of them to see teacher Miss. Armitage to get into dress up costume. Susan thanks her for helping out and notices she is wearing a mans watch, joking about swapping with Karl for his women’s one. Susan notices Pepper is rather sentimental about her watch. Ned, Janae & Mickey arrive but he is not happy to spend time away from Ned & Janae even though it means spending time with some of the kids he’ll be going to school with. Pepper takes Mickey to get him involved in the activities and Ned takes the opportunity to thank Janae for helping him with Mickey since he arrived.
No 28 - Lounge: Harold, Tom & Lou reminises over the 1950’s looking at old photos and Tom asks Zeke to get him a beer. Karl thinks it is a good idea and mentions to Susan he has found a home to take Tom in. Rachel reminds Zeke that there are going to be worse than good days with Tom but Zeke is unhappy at the old man going into a home when he can be looked after with them. Tom sings along to one of his late wife’s favourite records and Susan encourages Karl to join in.
Community Hall: Pepper gives praise to Mickey for his drawing while a number of boys watch him with her. Mickey innocently asks Pepper why people don’t stay together if they like each other and she becomes a bit emotional thinking about Adam and excuses herself. One of the boys Matcham wants to see what Mickey is drawing but it ends with them fighting over the drawing and it getting ripped. Mickey is really upset.
No 26 - Lounge: Ned & Janae return from a run and Janae is almost over confident at her ability to win the boxing match. Lou arrives with a present for Janae. The bag he used when he used to box but upon opening it they find it full of used sports kit, which smells pretty bad. Lou makes his excuses to get back to the farewell party for Tom. Alone, Ned & Janae stumble for a way to talk without saying too much but Ned finally asks if she has to leave for Cairns but is it over the top of her speaking. Janae asks him to repeat what he said and Ned backs down saying he was only saying how much he was going to miss her training with him. Unconvinced Janae excuses herself to take a shower.
No 28 - Lounge: Everyone joins in singing the socialist anthem ‘The Red Flag’ at Tom’s party accompanied by Harold on the tuba. Rachel mentions the labour party but Tom only speaks for voting in the socialist party! Harold & Lou change the subject to get back to music rather than politics. Karl & Susan mention to Rachel & Zeke they have gone onto the waiting list for a place in an Edens Hill nursing home for Tom but until he gets in, he’ll live with them and have a nurse to help them out.
Community Hall: Ned & Janae arrive to pick Mickey up to learn from Pepper Mickey has wet himself after being bullied by another boy. Ned spots the child and demands to know what has gone on.
Community Hall: Ned confronts Matcham’s father but he is as much a bully as his son. Mickey comes back into the room and Ned has to be pulled back by Janae from violently reacting to the bully and his father’s taunts as they leave.
Janae reminds Ned he has to set the example to Mickey and Ned calls it standing up for his son. Janae takes Mickey’s rucksack and finds the drawing he had torn up. She finds it hard to read as it comes with the message to her not to leave.
Regular Cast Credits
Trivia Notes
• The Community hall telephone number is 9881 1000
• The Red Flag song was an anthem for the Socialist Party
• Miss Armitage is mentioned as a helper at the community hall. She is seen briefly where the dressing up corner is and is later mentioned as the person cleaning Mickey up after wetting himself
Summary by Paul
