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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 4138-4142 by Rhys
UK Broadcast: Monday 27th January - Friday 31st January 2003
Writers: Marieke Hardy, Lyn Ogilvy, Jon Stephens, Jeff Truman, Anthony Morris. Directors: Gary Conway, Chris Adshead

Monday's episode opens with the conclusion to the previous week's dramatic cliffhanger. Dione breaks down in tears, finally confiding in Toadie about Mr Cook's attempted sexual assault on her. Toadie encourages her to report him to the appropriate authority, so as to prevent the same happening to someone else in the future...

What is interesting about these scenes is that unbeknown to Dee and Toadie, another nurse, Sheena Wilson, has also fought off the advances of Mr Cook. However, she is away on holiday, and unable to bear witness to Dione's struggle. Whether the character of Sheena will be used as a further tool against Martin Cook is unknown. It is slightly worrying that the story of Sheena being harassed was specifically written to cover the absence of Madeleine West as Dione. Thus, it would be quite unsurprising if little or no reference was made to it in the future. Despite Toadie assuring Dee that he wouldn't do anything hasty, the following morning he confronts the surgeon in the hospital car park - warning him that Dione has told everything, and will make a formal complaint. Later in the week, Dione has an appointment with the Welfare and Equal Opportunities representative at the hospital. She is warned of the possible risks of making such serious allegation, but vows to fight on. She suffers a major blow, however, when she later discovered Martin Cook has made counter allegations, and insists it was Dione who was infatuated with him and wouldn't take no for an answer. In one of the final scenes of the week, Dee confronts Martin, appalled that he could further undermine her by suggesting she's a liar. He tells her that he will gladly drop his charges, if she drops hers. Dione, though, vows to keep fighting.

The newly returned, Jack Scully, is breakfasting with Nina, Connor and Michelle at the Coffee Shop, early in the week, while Joe and Lyn are at home. A knock on the door spells the arrival of another, permanent addition to the cast - Lori Lee. Lori is a native New Zealander, and Jack's girlfriend. Now that Michelle Ang has arrived as Lori, the difference between the Kiwi accent and the Aussie is becoming all the more noticeable, especially in scenes of Jack and Lori by themselves. Joe and Lyn, slightly shocked by her unexpected arrival, point her in the direction of Lassiter's, where she can find Jack. However, he has left to take a walk, and Lori, disappointed, returns to No.26. When Nina et al tell Jack that Lori is in town, upon his return, he is evidently shocked, and makes a mad dash back to the house. It is too late, however. Lori is already telling his parents the real reason behind him moving back to Erinsborough. It transpires that Jack has been retired from Barnsford United FC, and he feels that unless he can play at professional level, he'd rather not play football at all. Joe and Lyn are shocked, but understanding of his decision. Thankfully, there wasn't an obvious inclination to refer heavily to British football in these episodes. In the past, Neighbours tends to have embarrassed itself by making totally unbelievable references to Jack's involvement in the game - for example, that Jack plays for a second division team, yet has been invited to tea with David Beckham! Lori immediately comes across as being slightly gregarious and oozes confidence - thus, she is the total opposite of Lyn, and they immediately clash. Later in the week, Jack breaks the news to his girlfriend that he wants to reside in Erinsborough, permanently - despite a job offer from Lori's father in New Zealand. Lori understands, and on Friday they announce to the rest of the family, over dinner, that they will both take up Joe's offer of staying at the house, indefinitely. Lyn is horrified at the prospect of sharing a house, full time, with Lori. Especially as Miss Lee unintentionally undermines Lyn at every opportunity.

Rosie continues to visit the hospital, even though Lou refuses to see her. In a typical, assertive fashion, Rosie storms into Lou's private room declaring, "You are a stubborn old sod, Lou Carpenter!" before leaving again. Later on, Lou is finally allowed home, on the condition that he rests and is closely monitored. Rosie manages to catch him alone and, kindly, gives him a gift of some magazines. Despite Karl and Darcy's advice to the contrary, Lou has decided that with his health being in such a poor state he should take a trip north to see Louise. The scene involving Lou seeking advice on flying from Karl and Darcy appears to have made it through to the final edit with a blooper still present. The three characters greet each other several times with "Hello" - to the degree where it appears that neither were sure whose lines were next! Before he leaves, Lou asks Rosie if she will give their relationship serious consideration, and let him know her final decision upon his return. Rosie promises this. It's a shame to see actor Tom Oliver having to play Lou as the suffering old man, again. It seems the storyliners are at a loss of how to provide a good, strong storyline, without resorting to ill health for Lou. It's getting to the stage where we could almost reserve that room at Erinsborough General on an annual basis for Mr Carpenter!

That afternoon, Stephanie and Summer take part in the Erinsborough Primary School fashion parade, where Steph masquerades as Summer's mother. The Ramsay Street couple outshine the other mothers and daughters, while Max's feelings for his neighbour are further complicated when Steph gives him a suggestive wink from the catwalk. Max later comments to Rosie on how attractive Stephanie looked in a dress - a comment Ms Scully overhears and takes offence to. However, Libby suggests that she is, in fact, protesting too much and really relishes in Max's attention. However, Steph does herself no favours when she goes on a shopping spree - returning with blouses, skirts and dresses. A total contrast for Ramsay Street's 'biker babe'.

Following a previous encounter with Chloe's daughter, Jordan, Darcy is wary of her motives, and is aware that she will stop at nothing to destroy his relationship with her mother. Jordan appears unexpectedly at the pub one lunchtime, interrupting Chloe and Darcy's meal. Jordan announces that a new bar has opened in town, and would they like to join her there that night? Darcy and Chloe aren't too keen, but Jordan persuades them. Conveniently, for the daughter, Chloe is called up for a meeting the following morning, and must spend the night working. Chloe, unassumingly, encourages Darcy to go along with Jordan. The following morning, Chloe confronts Darcy in the Coffee Shop and slaps him across the face. She tells him that she's appalled that he has supposedly attempted to seduce her daughter. Darcy manages to convince her that Jordan is manipulative and is lying to Chloe. Things look as though they're getting back to normal until one night when Darcy and Chloe arrive at the hotel to find Darcy's car windows have been smashed. Immediately, the young doctor assumes it's Jordan's doing - which angers Chloe enormously.

Michelle is still upset at having lost out on the opportunity to go to New York, and attempts to alleviate the problematic sleeping arrangements at No. 26 by suggesting her and Connor share a room. Joe is ballistic that his youngest daughter could suggest such an idea. Lyn supports her husband's decision and Michelle is left feeling even more disappointed. Nina's parents discover she has won the Eden-FM "Undiscovered Talent" competition, and they encourage their daughter to drop out of school in order to pursue a professional singing career. Nina is wary of doing so - especially when Jack compares her situation to his, years ago, when he, regrettably, gave up school for soccer. Again, we do not see nor hear Nina's parents. The story is purely played through Nina's conversations with other characters. Boyd takes Max's advice and admits to his friends that he exaggerated 'how far' he and Heather had gone together in their relationship, and defended girls' rights to be respected. Although his male peers laughed at him, the year ten girls found a new respect for him.

And, finally, the story of Susan's amnesia is drawing to a close. Susan and Karl are excited as they flick through their original wedding album (confusingly, and amazingly, the first time Susan has seen it since her slip). Susan makes a comment about the handsome groomsman, not realising he is Martin Chester - with whom she had a brief fling with in 1999, following the revelation of Karl's dalliance with Sarah. Susan is appalled she could have cheated on Karl, and is even more amazed that he never used that as a weapon against her when she grilled him about Sarah. Interestingly, when the character of Martin first appeared in the show, it was as having been Karl's best man. The space of four years appears to have changed his role at their wedding.
Karl, so overjoyed that their relationship is as positive as it can be, given the circumstances, proposes to Susan for the second time. She accepts, and soon makes plans for a grand wedding - much to Karl, and his wallet's, displeasure!

Notes: the hospital car park is in reality the car lot at Global Television Studios where the interior scenes of the show are filmed. The red building - presumably the hospital - is in fact the exterior of the Wentworth Detention Center from Prisoner.