Neighbours

When Declan and Bridget agree to choose a Godparent for India they realise they have very different opinions on the matter. After deciding on the criteria for the “right godparent” they put their friends to the test to see who would be best suited. Disappointed with the results they discuss their friends’ failings, unaware that the whole conversation is being broadcast via India’s baby monitor. The rest of the gang are gutted by what they hear.

Lucas is under pressure to pay off his gambling debt to Johnno. Unable to meet his payment deadline and feeling under threat, Lucas is forced to call Dan for help.  But will Dan be able to help him in time? Or will it be too late?  

Bridget and Declan’s harsh evaluations of the teens as Godparents piques Ringo and Donna’s insecurities about their friendships. While Donna sets out to fix it by throwing them a party, Ringo’s only angered by their gall. When Ringo sees how upset Donna is that yet another family (her friends) is falling apart, he joins her cause in bringing the group back together. Exhausted from sleepless nights, Bridget and Declan are touched by their friends’ gesture but when a dietary requirement is missed, Ringo’s true feelings are revealed and tempers fray. Is this end for these best friends? 

Rescuing Lucas from a dangerous encounter with Johnno, Dan demands to know if Lucas’ gambling problem has resurfaced. Despite knowing his gambling has risked his own safety and business, Lucas still can’t admit that he’s fallen off the wagon. Dan’s uncompromising support and trust encourages Lucas to tackle his addiction. The question is, have Lucas’ problems already gone too far? 

Realising that he’ll have to leave his best friend behind, Mickey finds a way to say a temporary goodbye to Jake. Seeing his travelling partner unhappy, Lou recruits an unlikely, frustrated artist to help him remind Mickey that he’s never too far from Ramsay Street.

In the fallout from their fight with the other teens, Bridget and Declan begin to snipe at each other. Sleep-deprived and irritable, their emotions run high and it’s up to Steve and Miranda to remind them of what’s important. Realising that their new family, and the future they are now bound to share, eclipses any petty squabbles, Bridget and Declan are united when the Parker family leave for their trip to Oakey. Wishing he could travel with them, loneliness takes its toll on Declan but he contents himself by sending picture messages to his wife and child as they continue on their journey. Little does he know that tragedy is about to strike on a lonely country road when Steve loses control of the family car. 

Libby’s egg harvest has paid off and Susan is due to be implanted the following day. Now that the surrogacy is becoming a reality, Dan finds it difficult knowing how to relate to Susan. She’s his mother-in-law but she could also conceivably carry his child. Pushed along by Toadie, Dan confesses his concern. Susan suggests the only way they can survive the unconventional nature of the surrogacy is to keep talking with one another throughout the process. After all, they’re all in it together. 

A survivor crawls from the wreckage of the Parker car groggy with shock. Can they find help in time? 

Susan is shocked to learn she may have missed her appointment to have Libby’s egg implanted due to a mix-up with dates. With no-one else available, she must rely on Paul to get her to the hospital and she finds him surprisingly supportive. As Paul finds his assumptions about the surrogacy process challenged, an unlikely bond is formed. 

Under pressure from Dan to end his gambling, Lucas discovers that Harry’s photography project and playing games with Elle are just the distraction he needs. 

Paul ropes Declan in to help plan his wedding to Rebecca, despite his protests that it’s not his area of expertise. Toadie pitches in with rom-com inspired ideas but it’s Kate who comes up trumps when she encourages Declan to channel the experience of his own wedding for inspiration. Declan relives his special day with Bridget, tragically unaware of the disaster that’s befallen the Parkers. 

Delirious Steve finally comes to his senses and realises he has wandered into the bush, away from the site of the accident. Battling his own injuries, Steve manages to flag down help and get back to the crash site in time to rescue Miranda, but where on earth is Bridget? 

Having alienated all of his friends, Declan accepts Kate’s offer of dinner at her place. However, they arrive home to discover that Harry has used some of Paul’s money to buy Sophie a new computer game and tensions rise. Declan tries to help but Harry turns on him, unwittingly hitting a very raw nerve. When Declan catches Harry playing the piano at Susan’s, tempers flare and they end up fighting. Can Susan help them both to get over their issues? 

Kate is torn between wanting to be a normal teenager and the heavy responsibilities she places on herself to raise her brother and sister. It comes to a head when she takes Harry to task for buying Sophie the game “Guitar Hero”; he hasn’t run the purchase by her. Kate feels trapped in a never ending cycle of housework but Sophie thinks it’s time for a change.  She feels Kate chooses to take on this burden and that she should lighten up and just be a regular teenager every now and then. Kate’s torn between being a sister and a mother. Which side will win out?