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Magic Moments > 1997 > The 1997 Season Finale Episode 2995
Written by Ian Coughlan, Directed by Philip East and Chris Adshead
Ben
is teased by his rival at the race track, Steve Van Eck. Ben
beats him past the finish line and Lou cheers with delight.
Sarah tells Karl about the flowers she received from Ian Lewis.
Ian and Sarah break up in the surgery and Sarah tells Karl
that she's sick of looking for Mr. Right. Anne and Toadie
are in the Coffee Shop, and Toadie lets it slip that Billy
is in Sydney with Caitlin. Anne phones Sydney but no one answers
the phone. She says she's worried that Caitlin will get her
claws into Billy. At Sydney, Billy and Caitlin are soaking
up the rays on a yacht. Toadie assures Anne nothing will happen,
but advises her to get to Sydney as soon as possible...
At
Number 32, Anne asks Ruth if she can go to Sydney, because
she's worried about Billy. Ruth assumes that Anne means she
wants to phone him, but Anne says she needs to go and see
him. Anne says she's worried about Caitlin and everything,
and Ruth lets her go, as she says that if something goes wrong
between the couple, she'll never hear the end of it. Anne
thanks her and goes to get ready, but Ruth says she will drive
her to the bus station. She lists some rules - one of which
is that Anne has to return home the next night.
 . . . 
Toadie
and Karl chat in the Coffee Shop - Karl asks how he's finding
living with Lou, and Toadie says it's going okay. He orders
a salad roll and a coffee. As he goes to sit down, Sarah enters
and orders the same thing and sits with Karl.
 . . . 
At
Sydney, Caitlin's in Billy's hotel room. Billy is trying to
ring Anne but he isn't getting an answer. Caitlin says that
it obviously isn't important. Caitlin says Billy shouldn't
get bogged down in the business with Anne, and instead concentrate
on his swim tomorrow. Caitlin tells him to forget everything
about Anne.
Anne sits on a coach, heading for Sydney.
 . . . 
Back
at the Coffee Shop, Lou enters and approaches Ben at the counter.
They speak about the race tomorrow, and say they'll meet at
the track in the morning. Lou tells Ben that he's capable
of beating Steve again, and tells him to think positively.
As they leave they pass Sarah and Karl's table, and joke about
the two of them spending so much time together. Sarah overreacts
and says their behaviour is stupid.
Back
in Sydney, Billy comes out from the bathroom wearing just
a towel. Caitlin is sitting on the bed waiting for him. They
speak about Anne and Billy says that he doubts she'll call
him now that it's late. Caitlin says that if they don't sort
things out, she's next in line. Billy is offended by her comment,
and she says that he knows how she feels about him. Billy
says he has to sort things out with Anne, and Caitlin says
Billy should do what he wants to do, not what Anne wants.
She tries it get intimate once again, but Billy turns her
away, saying the last thing he needs is more complications.
 . . . 
Ben
and Lou are at the racetrack checking the car. Steve approaches
and says that Ben was lucky the first time, and that he won't
beat him. Lou leaves to find a good spot to watch the race
in comfort.
At
the surgery, Sarah rants to Karl about all men having a one-track
mind. Karl tells her that she's attractive, and so it's only
natural for men to fall at her feet. She points out that Karl
hasn't yet, and he says that's because he's married and immune.
Sarah then tells Karl that Ian Lewis has a wife and kids.
 . . . 
At
Number 26, Phil is massaging Ruth and awkwardly tries to tell
her that he wants to move in with her. He stumbles over his
words, and just as he's about to ask about his idea, Ruth
cuts him off and says that she understands he doesn't want
to move in with someone until he's married. Ruth leaves and
asks Phil to pick her up in half an hour to go to see Ben
at the track.
In
Sydney, Billy, Caitlin and Mandi are at the swimming pool
- it's Billy's turn to swim. The two girls try to psyche him
up for it, but Billy says he shouldn't be doing this. Caitlin
says he's a terrific natural swimmer, and she knows he can
do it.
 . . . 
At
the racetrack, Ruth, Phil and Lance arrive. Lance is videotaping
the event. Down at the track, Ben's all set and Lou has some
final words of encouragement with him. The race begins.
 . . . 
 . . . 
At
the pool, Billy finishes his swim and Caitlin and Mandi say
he was brilliant. He cheers on their other team mate with
the girls.
 . . . 
Ben
and Steve are neck and neck. Over in the stand, Phil is about
to propose to Ruth when Harold, Madge and Paul arrive and
stop him in his tracks.
Back
in Sydney, Billy and the girls go back to the hotel room,
and Mandi leaves the two of them alone.
 . . . 
Anne
gets off the coach and picks up her bag. She heads towards
the hotel...
At
the surgery, Sarah and Karl are finishing their work for the
day...
 . . . 
Back
at Sydney, Billy says he's going for a shower, and Caitlin
offers to join him...
Back
at the racetrack, Ben and Steve are still neck and neck...
Caitlin
apologises and says she should go back to her room. Anne wanders
around outside the hotel...
At
the surgery, Sarah speaks to Karl in the intercom asking for
Mal and Catherine's address. As he reads it out to her, Sarah
sees her weekend with Matt in her diary and starts crying...
Anne,
meanwhile, continues to seach for Billy's room...
At
the racetrack, Ben and Steve are still battling it out for
the lead position...
Karl
comes out of his office and sees Sarah crying. She explains
that she's upset about Matt, and Karl says he'll give her
a lift home...
Back
at the track, Lou cheers on Ben...
Anne
knocks on Mandi's door, and asks where Billy's room is...
 . . . 
In
Billy's room, Billy says that, since Anne hasn't called, their
relationship must be over...
Ruth
cheers on Ben at the track...
At
the surgery, Sarah tells Karl that she has no friends or family.
Karl hugs her as says she is very beautiful and has a great
personality...
At
the race track, a car pulls into the pit-stop...
Mandi
takes Anne to Billy's room, saying he'll be happy to see her...
Ben
and Steve are still neck and neck...
 . . . 
Sarah
is in tears in Karl's arms, and he reassures her that the
right man for her is just around the corner. They kiss each
other...
Billy
and Caitlin kiss, not knowing that Anne is outside the room...
 . . . 
At
the racetrack, the car in the pit-stop pulls out and stalls.
Phil asks Ruth to marry him, but then Ben's car collides with
the other vehicle and flies through the air. The crowd gasp
in shock. The car lays upside down on the track after spinning
through the air. Ruth screams and runs towards the car as
the engine bursts into flames.
 . . . 
 . . . 
 . . . 
Notes:
Chris Adshead directed the race sequences, with Philip East
overseeing the rest of the episode
Comment:
The 1997 finale is arguably one of the best episodes of Neighbours
ever produced. A season finale has never been as dramatic
as this, and the way the three cliffhangers were quickly intercut
during the last half was absolutely incredible, and helped
keep the tension running. The writing was spot on, and the
stunts at the racetrack were fantastic - as well as the location
shooting in Sydney. Neighbours really pulled out all the stops
for this episode, creating a simply perfect ending to a fantastic
year. The Australian viewers had to wait six weeks for Ben's
fate to be revealed, to see if Anne catches Billy and Caitlin,
and also see the consequences of Karl's intimate moment with
Sarah.
To read
the next episode in this sequence, click here.
Summary by Billy. Captures by Karl
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