Episode Title: Beaten To The Punch
Cast: Ian Smith as Harold Bishop, Stephanie McIntosh as Sky Mangel, Claudine Henningsen as Kerry Mangel, Nell Feeney as Janelle Timmins, Eliza Taylor-Cotter as Janae Timmins, Sianoa Smit-McPhee as Bree Timmins, Daniel O'Connor as Ned Parker
Guest Cast: Joe Clements as Sen. Sgt Allan Steiger, Tessa James as Anne Baxter, Nick Russell as Caleb Maloney, Selma Danculovic as Michaela Chapel, Fletcher O’Leary as Mickey Gannon, uncredited as boxing referee
Recap
• Pepper tells Ned & Janae that Mickey has wet himself
• Sky cannot believe Loris swapped Bree & Anne at birth and believes the Timmins should know
• Allan suggests the Timmins all move north to be nearer to each other
• • Ned almost reacts violently when protecting Mickey. Janae sees Mickey’s picture asks her not to leave
No 22 - Lounge/kitchen: Ned tries to strike up a conversation with Mickey about what he did at the community hall while he cooks lunch but all Mickey will tell him is he drew a picture but refuses to show him what it is. Mickey goes to his room leaving Ned confused.
No 26 - Lounge: Janae is explaining to Allen about Ned almost losing his temper and Alan interrupts her pointing out all she has talked about is Ned. Janae refuses to accept what Allan is implying is true and excuses herself to go to her room.
The General Store: Sky brings over Chocolate Sundays to Bree & Anne and Harold tells Janelle they are on him. They laugh about when they first met and Janelle reflects on the chance of getting her family together, including Loris. Harold seems a little lost for words and Janelle thinks he is getting a bit emotionally - Anne however sensing he is verging on spilling the truth rushes Janelle & Bree out of the store. Sky tells Harold he has to tell them the truth but Harold believes Loris will do that on her own account. He decides he will see Janelle later but whether he tells her or not is something he has yet to decide. Caleb arrives to give Sky the news he has completed the work on the graffiti wall.
No 26 - Lounge: Allan plays mind games on Janae about Ned as Janelle, Bree & Anne return. Janelle & Allan go to their room to ‘pack’ while Bree chats about seeing Loris again. Anne unable to hold back tells them there is another reason Loris cam looking for her.
The General Store: Sky finishes up at the store but Caleb suggests they see the mural tomorrow in daylight. Sky becomes a little emotional telling Caleb she is just happy.
No 26 - Lounge/porch: Anne explains how Loris tried to make amends for what she did but Bree & Janae see it as Loris just feeling guilty. Anne tells them she has forgiven Loris and realises it meant two families were brought together in the end over it. Bree realises Harold must have known about it, explaining his reaction when Harold arrives. Bree makes an excuse to see him alone with Janae. Outside they tell him they know why he came to visit.
No 22 - Kitchen: Mickey finishes his lunch and thinks Ned yelling at the man was ‘cool’. Ned tells him it was a pretty stupid thing to have done and a mistake. Ned takes out the bag of soiled clothes from his rucksack and Mickey embarrassed throws them to the floor and starts to hit Ned. Ned grabs his son and hugs him to comfort him.
No 26 - Driveway: Harold listens as Janae & Bree explain they know what Loris did but ask Harold to stay quiet to Janelle as it will hurt her and ruin some of the happiest times she’s had.
No 26 - Lounge: Janelle ponders on what Janae & Bree are up to and when she goes to leave to find them, Anne lies that they are planning a surprise for her birthday. Janelle reminds her that her birthday is months away but Allan interrupts with more packing.
No 26 - Driveway: The girls convince Harold to stay quiet and not tell Janelle. He also assures them that Loris was truly sorry for her actions and begs them to give her a second chance.
No 26 - Lounge: Ned & Mickey finish desert and Ned asks what happened to upset him. Mickey admits he is sad about Janae going and Ned tells him he is too. Mickey asks to go and see Janae box tomorrow but Ned tells him it is not a good place for a child to go to. Ned vows to make sure Janae is not hurt.
Community Hall: Allan, Sky & the Timmins family take front row seats as Janae prepares herself for her fight with Michaela. Ned encourages her to use all she has learnt to keep strong. Anne asks what Michaela looks like and Sky plays her down as some playground bully. Janelle is nervous for her daughter’s safety and warns Ned to end the match at the first hint of Janae being hurt. The referee calls them in to talk through the rules and Michaela taunts her before they go to their corners. A few last minute words of encouragement from Ned and the bell rings for the 1st round to start. Janae follows Michaela around the ring but she takes a jab that misses only to receive a direct hit on the chin, knocking her to the floor.
Community Hall: Janae gets back to her feet after the count of seven and wants to continue. This time she protects herself and lands a hit on Michaela, which angers her opponent greatly.
The General Store: Caleb greets Harold and Harold explains Sky is at the boxing match. Caleb admits he is there to get Harold’s approval to ask Sky out. Harold agrees he is happy providing he does right by Sky & Kerry.
Community Hall: Janae manages to continue with the fight despite all her family hating watch her. The bell rings for the end of the round and Janae returns to her corner. Ned tries to get her to quit but Janae is adamant she’ll continue.
It is all too much for Janelle who leaves the hall.
Community Hall - Car park: Allan chases after Janelle who is struggling to accept Janae getting hurt and Ned agreeing with her to let her continue. Allan tells her that Ned is in love with Janae and he believes Janae feels the same so he won’t let her get hurt. Allan reminds her that the boxing & Ned has been Janae’s passage to recovery over the last few months. Janelle can see he’s right and wants to get back into the hall.
Community Hall: The match has restarted and both girls last out until the end of the round. The Umpire calls the two girls to the centre and announces Michaela as the winner. Janae retires back to her corner and Ned tells her she is ‘pretty awesome’. Janae repays the compliment but they are interrupted by Michaela who congratulates janae on a good fight. Ned is disappointed when Janae agrees to a rematch in Brisbane, meaning she still intends to move north.
Community Hall - Car park: Mickey is keen to see Janae as Harold arrives with Kerry. He mentions he saw Caleb earlier and looks forward to seeing him again. Janae is congratulated by her family and impressed Janelle offer to pays for a trainer when they get to Cairns. Another reminder that she is going is too much for Ned and he and Mickey set off for home. Janae turns to Janelle and tells her she’s decided she isn’t going to Cairns.
Regular Cast Credits
Summary by Paul
