australian television information archive

Runaway Baby

Episode 3.04 (24)
Mon, August 27, 2018
639,000 viewers (13th)
Written by Tamara Asmar
Directed by Lucy Gafy

Meryl and Carlito's relationship sends shock waves through the Knight family. Tension between Hugh and Penny puts the new cardiac clinic at risk. Matt reconnects with his old high school crush.

Already under pressure from his farm workload and in conflict with both Charlie (Nicole da Silva) and Hugh (Rodger Corser), Matt (Ryan Johnson) is incensed to witness a frisson between Meryl (Tina Bursill) and Carlito (Vince Colosimo) at a family catch up.

Matt becomes convinced that his mother is vulnerable and needs protection from unwelcome suitors and issues Meryl a damning ultimatum. Only the arrival of April (Miranda Tapsell), a delightful old friend from school who has returned to Whyhope to find love, puts a smile on his face.

Meryl struggles to navigate her new fresh widow status and is confronted to learn that nearly everyone is treating her differently in the wake of Jim’s (Steve Bisley) death, including her own sons.

Determined to retain her autonomy and forge her own way in this new landscape, Meryl sets out to teach Matt and Ajax (Matt Castley) a lesson, even if it means colluding with Carlito. The near death experience of her newly minted widow friend, Vivian (Annie Byron), further serves to drive her mission and ends, somewhat unexpectedly, in a new romantic business venture with Betty (Belinda Bromilow).

Hugh throws himself into his new cardiac clinic, determined to pay off the latest in Jim’s outstanding debts, but in doing so, he alienates his staff and sets up an impossible workload that will be hard to maintain. Penny (Hayley McElhinney) and Hugh maintain a civil veneer, but he can’t help testing the waters with her again, hoping she hasn’t given up on him all together. Penny, meanwhile, is supposed to be helping Hugh with increasing cardiac clinic business, but instead finds herself immersed in patients of a different, more furry kind.

Charlie still has rose-coloured glasses for Carlito and defends him to Matt, who she thinks should allow himself to finally grieve properly. Ivy (Annabel Wolfe) causes problems by drinking with friends and has to be revived by Hugh and Penny when she goes missing and gets alcohol poisoning. When Hugh and Penny save Ivy, Charlie realises her dad has had it tough and invites him and Ivy to stay for good.

Even though little Jimmy is stable, Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) and Ajax are still under immense pressure in the premmie ward and Hayley is increasingly frustrated at the limitations being placed on her.

Convinced that all the nurses, including Mia (Brittany Clark), are out to get her, Hayley starts to take matters into her own hands, which to Ajax, could possibly put Jimmy in harm’s way.

Note: the 4th episode to be written by Tamara Asmar who is married to Ryan Johnson (Matt). See article.

Starring:

• Rodger Corser as Hugh Knight
• Nicole da Silva as Charlie
• Ryan Johnson as Matt Knight
• Tina Bursill as Meryl Knight
• Hayley McElhinney as Penny
• Chloe Bayliss as Hayley
• Matt Castley as Ajax
• Belinda Bromilow as Betty
• Brittany Clark as Mia
• Charles Wu as Ken

With:

• Vince Colosimo as Carlito
• Annabel Wolfe as Ivy
• Winta McGrath as Floyd Cartwright
• Ellis Watts as Baby Jimmy
• Lester Morris as Gordon
• Miranda Tapsell as April
• Alan Dukes as Glen
• Glen & Emily Van Reason as Pub Musicians
• Uli Latukefu as Darren
• Noa Lubotzky as Teenage Girl
• Kane Johnson as Teenage Boy
• David Campbell as TV Presenter
• Sonia Kruger as TV Presenter
• Annie Byron as Vivian
• Jane Harders as Helen
• Samantha Silks as Charlie Double
• Steve Murdoch as Ajax Stunt Double
• Dean Povic as Carlito Stunt Double
• Aidan Gillett as Matt Stunt Double
• Ali Kadhim as Darren Driving Double